Bryce IS very far behind Vue.. but the new 5.5 makes using poser content VERY easy, and there's no fiddling with textures or such, so long as they aren't using P5 or 6's advanced nodes. I see Bryce more as better version of things like Micrcosm, then as a replacement for Vue. Check out the bryce galleries here and over at Daz.. there really is some amazing things people have done with it. I think I spent a total of maybe $30 or so tops for the bryce 5 update last year, the temp poser content plugin they had, the 3d starter bundle with all the characters, and the new 5.5 update, and just the 3d starter pack alone already got me the $30 value back (Getting the new skeletons for $2 didn't hurt at all either! ;)

Way too many people take way too many things way too seriously.