**"**this is a semantic problem, as some poser users may contend that
spinning dials in poser and using the magnets and morph tool is the
same thing as creating figures."

I have seen them referred to as characters and  not as figures.  But, you can do limited modeling in poser, I modeled my first few things in Poser using the primitives and magnets with the grouping tool and import/export options. ( read some Dr Geep tutorials to see what I mean.) Poser rigs,  so, yes you can create figures in poser. It depends on what kind of figures you want to make. Something like V4 no, A robot, Yes.

Carrara has proper modeling tools to create mesh to then make morphs and rig. But if you rig in carrara you can't use it in Poser or DS. If you rig in Poser it can be used in Carrara, poser and DS. So it depends if you are using it for your own purpose or if your making it for others to use in other apps besides carrara.