Shane, the fact that you can claim the cost as a business expense changes a lot. Adobe are the industry standard, so if that's what you need, then do it. It is, as you say, like renting a house. When you stop paying, they boot you. Monthly payments for a professional (I count indies that do something for a living) is easier for budgeting.

I started my professional life as a graphic designer in the early 1980's (with paint, ink and illustration board). The computer of choice was the Mac because the OS came with a paint program bundled with it. That program was made by Adobe. To this day, graphic designers are taught to use Adobe products on Macs. THAT is the reason it is the industry standard; blind conservatism and falling for the product push (or, 'I don't want to risk falling behind'). Go into any printing business in Australia and you will see PC's in the admin area and Macs in the graphics area... why? Because that's all they are taught at school. They don't know how to use Photoshop or InDesign or Illustrator on a PC, despite it being identical software. I mentioned this to a print shop owner, who agreed it would be cheaper to buy all PC's and have them properly networked and integrated through the business, but they said they would never be able to find a designer who would use them. They are not the industry standard because they are good, they are the standard due to legacy and conservatism.

I use Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign on a PC. I was taught on a Mac, but as a starving ex student, couldn't afford the computer. So I got a PC, hated Windows for a while, then realised it was no different... you just hate different things between the OS's.

Currently I lecture at university in a business faculty. My area is strategic foresight, so I teach the implications of emerging technologies and emerging/shifting business models. The only way conservative views will be overturned and other software become 'standard' (or rather, when there is a wealth of software that is 'acceptable') is by Indies producing signature work that cannot be replicated in Adobe products. Art directors can spot non-Adobe stuff a mile off (don't know how), so if it's good, they'll be interested. If you can do something that they can't, and it's cheaper to go to you rather than learn how to do it themselves, they will keep going back to you. The big advantage of things like Blender, GIMP, even Hexagon and Carrara and Poser, is that they are cheap enough to let the Indies in. You don't need the big studio to pay the stupid prices of the big companies. Of course, the other thing is that if you are a true Indie and use free software you don't have the overheads of larger businesses so you can be very price competitive. You clients won't know what software you used, nor will they care.

I have the current 3DS Max on my system. It's free, because I'm a lecturer (education licence). I don't use it any more. I use the free stuff like Blender, or the cheaper stuff like Hexagon. Full commercial licence, for free.

Do what works for you, Shane. Just be prepared to change when you see an opportunity. Don't be a blind sheep.