CompuServe Messages

Sure. When you need a feature for a project, I think the cost of its purchase is irrelevant. What concerns me about selling these features externally is the first time buyer of r4, or r5 or 6 or whatever, who finds the same features s/he can get for "free" on a Toaster or Electric Image are considered extras on 3DS. This isn't a problem now, but I worry it may be a fault of the "plug-in upgrade" concept. I thoroughly enjoy animating with a package widely considered to be the best in the field, and I want it to stay that way. Would I be upset if the IPAS disk I bought became obsolete when an upgrade included the same features? Yes, but that's the way the computer industry is. I'm also upset the first 486/33 I paid $5000 for four years ago isn't even an entry level system now. But I'd rather have the technology improve than have my feelings protected. And, in defense of Adesk, while $295 isn't spare change, I personally feel their pricing has always been competitive in the past. Ultimately, though, I'm just theorizing. It will take a year or so to see how we respond to this new method of upgrading, and which school of thought is correct. I haven't received my copy of r4 yet; I may (and probably will) love it. Mathew B.