ramble we do. I suppose it's cathartic to be able to actually be honest with your peers about often critical and contentious topics that directly relate to our past and current investments in our 3D tools, time, and resources - without being censored (there is no other word for it, nor is there a need for changing the language to make the censors more comfortable about their actions and choices. It is what it is, by the definition of the term). I have no space for any of them, given my belief that a well-intended but misguided ally can do far more damage to a cause than an overt adversary. When the goal morphs from honest improvement to tribal self-defense, any conversation can only go one way. rah rah DAZ. Petting the kitten while you bludgeon the puppy doesn't somehow even it all out... heh.

Re: the core source of the apparent frustration and conflict/tension?

We know better than to fool ourselves - DAZ Studio, and even a $20 PC+ deal on the full Carrara8.5 Pro product-suite, are hardly 'free'!

The 'price' to us users of any tool-chain investment is nothing compared to the commitment to that tool-chain, and I believe many folks at DAZ know this intellectually, but don't really 'get it' with respect to the levels of frustration they so consistently find need to 'disappear' in their community discussions. "Methinks thou protest too loudly..." is probably a relevant meme, and disingenuous to the new users who would expect an honest representation of the tool's established users.

You are absolutely correct in that there are a good number of very generous, sharp, and good folks that are still finding value in trading their time and insights at that other place (I was projecting on my expectations of the future there, per their policies - I'd love to be wrong). I also frequent the site for the same reason, albeit much less often, and with much less inspiration to bother to contribute - I've got a red-flag on my user-ID, so I'll skip the silly walking on eggshells game they play. To that end, I am comfortable asserting that there would be many more such people, and many more valuable (and spicy/substantial) interactions, were the TOS and mods to adopt and alternate approach. They clearly haven't reached some pain or realization threshold, and perhaps they will never need to - $5 for tango-alpha products is quite the draw.

Moving forward, I'm glad to have an alternate venue with many of the same good-hearted, creative, and sometimes bluntly honest community members here to join us.

To the OP, I have no interest in wasting any precious time or heart 'hating' DAZ, though the frustration and embarrassment they dole out can be quite real. Given my efforts to communicate my frustrations through the established channels (mods and DAZ_Steve, etc.) have been completely ignored, efforts in that direction don't seem meaningful to their economics, hence nor are they to mine or my wallet.

Ever forward, eh?, and thanks for the interesting dialog. It's nice to know we're not alone, along with some of the nuances that remind us that the simple... never really is simple, is it?

good stuff, --ms