My criteria for chosing Lightwave were:

1. It has a price tag below $1,000.-, and it seems that it is actively developed and supported.
2. It is reasonably easy to learn, and even master, for a hobbyist with limited time.
3. It has enough exciting advanced features to keep one 'engaged' for many long years without getting bored.
4. It has a very adequate support for Daz/Poser contents.
5. Last but not least, the new scaleable interface is truly essential for users with weak eyesight. After several weeks of working with LW 2019, I can tell you that the scaleable UI is truly a joy to work with, although it has some quirks.

I have carefully looked at Modo ever since its version 6, and each time I said I'll wait for the next release. It's just not my cup of tea, although it is a great 3D app in its own right.