I will have to say for the bucks Amapi seems to be the best I have used. If you run a Mac try pixel putty I use a PC now and that is the one program I wish would be ported over. AMapi is a Nurbs modeller and can do things like facet etrusion that makes for capabilities to make character models. Also a technique I have been using is to make a model in Amapi and then animate it in poser by making different versions of the model and using them as morph tagets. It works out smoother than using the bones in Poser.

The wit of a misplaced ex-patriot.
I cheated on my metaphysics exam by looking into the soul of the person next to me.