I model in Rhino and need a renderer that I can afford. Bryce does the job. I have issues with it too, particularly with the interface, but Im gradually getting used to it. Its not half as irritating now as it was when I began. And the renderer is not bad, IMHO, and the material and texture editors are actually very good. Also, Ive seen some really first-rate images produced with Bryce (as well as a large amount of really awful ones, but thats true of any program), so its quite possible...
Its not the fastest renderer on the planet, thats obvious, but Im not in that much of a hurry, anyway :)
/JuanAntonio