That does look like a good value, $46 vs. PI @ $389.  And it looks very similar to PI, using emitters, etc.  One thing I don't see is the ability to use a still or especially a video as a background.  That is a good thing to have when you want the effect to track something in the video, e.g. a smoke trail behind a vehicle.  Did I miss that?

The looping sounds good, I think PI can only extend the "life" of an emitter, maybe giving a similar effect.