If you think that what you use now gets the job done and whatever else looks like too much work to learn the keep on with what you got. I think the bottom line is: blender, max, maya, etc. However i did start in on 2.54 and things slowed down a bit but at the same time ive only been using it for a day or so and it underwent some major changes (from what i can tell) from 2.49. Even animating for me seems to be a breeze. i model one hand on the keyboard one on the mouse and just hammer stuff out. It takes a while to learn but once you learn it feels natural.

When i use it its like an extension of myself. I can model MUCH faster in blender then i ever could using 3dsmax but maybe thats because im so much more familiar with blender. Honestly if you learn the shortcuts blender is awsome. This seems to be a battle of personal preference, honestly it really all depends on what you use it for and what your comfortable with. These are the the programs i used for 3d stuff: that's is what works for me, but wouldn't work for all people. wings 3d is what gets me working with fast results and good motivation. one day when i do 3d animations than i will consider starting out with blender and eventually cosider maya, cinema 4d, or maybe 3ds max. i only model in them so i felt like i have no need for expensive stuff.

by the end you get the paycheck and that should make you happy. the main reason i felt that many ppl are unemployed is that i think they need to find jobs more often and just suck it up and stop complaining and just work it through. funny thing about jobs is that i can find them easily in California. i just felt like i should bring the best in what i had then if there isn't enough for what i need than i should move onto max that day. my thought was 'why should i buy if i couldn't truely used those free tools at their full potential' i only felt like that to prevent myself from mistakes i guess. i used max once before and i didn't really know all the features in it yet at the time, but it was not mine and i used it at my old buddies place. I could but i just have doubts sometimes.

Wings 3d review