"Drawing hair, for example, is not very difficult. Try one of the excellent tutorials here and elsewhere. Patching meshes, smoothing curves and so forth is a snap! Use ALL the tools available. I understand what you're saying, but try it sometime -- and keep trying. The great thing about computer art is that you can undo and save alternate version."

I have no doubt that I could work at it and become a good - if not particularly unique - with post work. I have a good knowledge of PS and a decent design head.

But I am in this for animation - virtual characters moving in non pre-rendered ways and interacting with my and each other to create images that freeze frame a world that doesn't exist outside my machine...

The project we just signed on for needs 5 hours of lip-synched animated 3D of a Poser model rendered in Max. That's more than 216,000 frames of animation. And I needs to be VERY realistic.

Post worked hair is not an option :)