well my knowledge in 3d is limited but from the many people i have talked to... says lightwave is the best all around renderer,modeler. that means in box. maya can render but many people feel it isnt studio quality so people like studios and huge companies by a renderer that cost as much as maya or more to render their maya projects. lightwave you do not have to do so. i have lightwave cant use it to save ym life yet. it will sit in its box collecting dust till i can do so. for now i will stick to bryce since i am learning bryce and poser still. but by january 2003 i will be using lightwave i hope for most projects :)