For organic modelling SoftImage is probably the best, but hardly the cheapest or easiest to use. I have never used Lightwave so I dont know about that one, but if everyone is telling you its good, you can't deny its plausibility. I usually use 3ds Max for most of my modelling needs, with Clay Studio and its NURMS subdivisins making it almost as good as SoftImage for organic figures. A lot of people say Carrara was easy to use and good, but personally I hated the program. Everyone has their different styles I guess. Truespace and Lightwave seem to be what most of the figure creaters here use though, so judging by their results Id say they would be sound investments.