I've not even started up poser except for maybe 3 minutes a month for the last 18 months or so; I've been pretty wrapped up in other things.
Can I get a general rundown on whats going on?
If I don't upgrade from Poser 6 will I be out of the loop? is there a New Daz3D character thats come out since Vicky4 that is a must-have? A new program that has turned out to be a great companion to Poser like Vue turned out to be (I have Vue 5 Esprit)? must-have python scripts? has littledragon come out with a earth shaking animation tool, lalverson a space-shaking SF system, Dark Whisper done anything as fantastic as the la sombra/tamsin/76/ etc (why did Dark Whisper stop that series, anyway?), philC...well, never mind, I know PhilC has come out with something incredible, I just have to go look.
Any new great online resources on the line of poserworld, or freestuff places?
DID ANYBODY FIX (or replace) POSERLOADER YET!!!?
I was just going to poke around, but then I realized that it might be good to have a "state of the Poser community" thread.

Here's the quick summary, then. Smith Micro (the new owners of Poser) and/or Content Paradise are the best thing since sliced bread / the spawn of the devil (delete according to your preference). DAZ (who have released the IMHO non-essential Aiko 4, but so far not Michael 4, Stephanie 4, David 4, or indeed Gremlin 4) are the best thing since sliced bread / the spawn of the devil (delete according to your preference). Haha, only serious. Poser 6 is still viable (I know, because I'm still using it). Poser 7 is either the best thing since sliced bread or the spawn of the devil, depending on who you talk to. The same goes for Poser Pro (aka Poser 7.5, and not to be confused with Pro Pack, aka Poser 4.5) PhilC and his army of clones (you know it's true, there's no other explanation for it) continue to be everywhere in Poserdom simultaneously, providing customer support as well as whizzing up new whizzy stuff; the most recent major release being Wardrobe Wizard 2, I think. Neither Lalverson nor Dark Whisper have been heard from recently, to the best of my knowledge, indeed in the case of the former, not for some time...

*Can I get a general rundown on whats going on?

*Sure.... same hype as ever, nothing worth mentioning or buying, except for Poser Pro perhaps.  If I don't upgrade from Poser 6 will you be out of the loop? I'm not 100% sure, but I do think if Poser 8 arrives you may have to pay full price and can't upgrade from Poser 6 to Poser 8 at all.

Poser Pro isn't excactly an upgrade or the next version, it's a sidegrade and that's why Poser 6 owners were allowed to upgrade. Normally you cannot skip a version if you want the upgrade price.

Artwork and 3DToons items, create the perfect place for you toon and other figures!

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?vendor=23722

Due to the childish TOS changes, I'm not allowed to link to my other products outside of Rendo anymore :(

Food for thought.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYZw0dfLmLk

Quote - Normally you cannot skip a version if you want the upgrade price.

Since when has anything Poser been "Normal"? :tt2:

I and lots of others upgraded from Poser 5 to Poser 7 at the upgrade price :)

Don't forget, V4.2 is out now... Why, I have no idea but, there's another one sitting on the shelf waiting for buyers.  Of course, the push is on to sell it so anything that used to be V4/ V4.1 now has a V4.2 tag on it.  I suppose that's OK since the base is free with a fully completed Artzone membership.  But, the obviousness is kind of insulting.

When is V4.8b9 coming out?  Next month?

Quote - Here's the quick summary, then. Smith Micro (the new owners of Poser) and/or Content Paradise are the best thing since sliced bread / the spawn of the devil (delete according to your preference). DAZ (who have released the IMHO non-essential Aiko 4, but so far not Michael 4, Stephanie 4, David 4, or indeed Gremlin 4) are the best thing since sliced bread / the spawn of the devil (delete according to your preference). Haha, only serious. Poser 6 is still viable (I know, because I'm still using it). Poser 7 is either the best thing since sliced bread or the spawn of the devil, depending on who you talk to. The same goes for Poser Pro (aka Poser 7.5, and not to be confused with Pro Pack, aka Poser 4.5) PhilC and his army of clones (you know it's true, there's no other explanation for it) continue to be everywhere in Poserdom simultaneously, providing customer support as well as whizzing up new whizzy stuff; the most recent major release being Wardrobe Wizard 2, I think. Neither Lalverson nor Dark Whisper have been heard from recently, to the best of my knowledge, indeed in the case of the former, not for some time...

That was about the funniest summary on the state of Poserland I've ever read... indeed, it's the funniest thing I've read this year. You're a riot, EnglishBob - well done!

Speaking of going incognito, anyone heard from the great transmap master artist, Kozaburo?

Monterey/Mint21.x/Win10 - Blender3.x - PP11.3(cm) - Musescore3.6.2

Wir sind gewohnt, daß die Menschen verhöhnen was sie nicht verstehen
[it is clear that humans have contempt for that which they do not understand] 

Metaphor of Chooks

*Speaking of going incognito, anyone heard from the great transmap master artist, Kozaburo? * He as well as several others have come under seige from the forces of Poser darkness. Don't worry though,  for everyone that falls "he" comes one step closer.  Soon,  the cycle will be complete and balance will once again be restored.