I demo'd Lightwave, Maya PLE and Cinema4D, and chose Cinema for it's easy-to-learn all-in-one package. I'm on a Mac though, so 3DSMax was not an option. From everything I see in terms of plugins, tutorials, etc.. Max is the most popular choice. Then again though, Lightwave does have just about the best modeller in the industry.... All of these 3D programs have radically different interfaces, and they are all intimidating before you start doing the tutorials. The biggest challenge in picking one is the work of going through each demo and learning enough of each program to make an informed choice. It ain't easy, but you have to do it because these programs aren't a small investment. -Adam