"According to the site's owner and others who worked with him, it did."

Er, that would be subjective opinion right?

"I don't disagree that it's easier, what I disagree with is that you seem to think no one, or mostly no one, can make it on their own and have to ride the coat tails of the bigger guys in order to be successful when that's not true."

So out of all the content creators for the Poser/DSverse what percentage do you think work with a major brokerage? What percentage make it on their own? In my opinion I would say that by far it's the minority that "make it on their own", so that would be mostly no one? Or am I missing something? And again you seem to be blurring DS/Poser content creation and the creation of a Website marketplace as the same pursuit. The creation of the content is essentially the same either way, the difference is the way in which that content is brokered through to the market. The skills required to create, promote and maintain a digital content marketplace are totally different to content creation, why would you blend the two artificially? Do you think the creators of the Steam Store are game designers? Itunes Store designers are musicians? I would also disagree with "riding the coattails" as being an accurate description of the relationship, the partnership is mutually beneficial and the whole is only a sum of its parts.

" I also disagree with your lack of understanding about how important advertising and marketing is to any industry and I don't get why you think the Poser/DS content industry would be any different."

My lack of understanding must stem from my 6 years of study in Marketing and Commercial Arts I guess... It didn't say it was unimportant I said it wasn't the top priority for a new content creator. And not quite as important as some make out in achieving a level of success in the niche market of DS/Poser content creation.

"There are a lot of people out there who use the software but don't buy from the main content brokers or frequent their forums, but they're buying content from somewhere, and the more you advertise your content outside of the brokerages you sell through - whether it's one of the big sites or your own - the more potential customers you have."

Are there? Really how do you know they are truly there, or there actual size? Any references I can see or should I simply take your word for it? Ever heard of the term 'Phantom Market'?

It surprises me that you lump the creation of DS/Poser content into a foundation lot with other similar pursuits like graphic art or 3D design. To most content creators it's just a single arm of what they do as a whole professionally, to be independently marketed and managed strategically as such. It really makes no sense marketing wise to try to make it a multi armed beast. Selling Poser/DS content is not the same as independent Design work of a 3D or otherwise nature, the branding and marketing required for both is quite different and their are many benefits to keeping the two separate from a business point of view. Unless the goal is to come across as some kind of neo-renaissance one man band.

Social media in many circumstances is not as effective as some may think it is at translating to general sales or even brand awareness. Most customers in this type of industry will not actually see your Facebook page until they are already aware of your brand, what you do and your existing sales point(s). A general brand presence is all that is really needed on social media and in most cases may lead to the occasional independent contract, but the direct translation to sales is nowhere near as effective as marketing methods such as direct email. How many people do you think are on Daz or Renderosity mailing list? How many do you think your startup Facebook page will reach in its first five years? Independent contracts for the creation of Poser DS content are also not as common as some seem make out. Often an independent offer will be well under the financial mark of what is achievable for the same item in terms of sales in the mass market.

" but even bad art can make a person successful if it finds the right audience."

The term "bad art" is also rather subjective, one mans trash is another treasure and all that....