The Bryce shadows aren't nearly so hard if you just adjust the shadow intensity in the skylab. It doesn't just set sun-shadow intensity, but even controls the shadows from radial lights, if you have the sun shut off and are doing an interior scene it will allow you to adjust all your lights. The default which is 90 on the shadows IS way too hard, I always cut it down to the 20-30 range to get far more realistic shadows, without having to jump through all the soft-lighting hoops most of the time.