@fairlight: English native speaker would be -highly- apreciated, I can tell you that...
regarding the issue with blender. Currently I am learning blender like a machine and there is a -lot- of documentation available (especialy videos). Yet I am already pretty deep in charmodelling and the only thing that bothers me (yet) is the huge amount of new possibilities. I.E you can generate and comb fur in -realtime-, aply textures as 3D-architekture in with a brushtool in realtime etc...
Yet I do not see the problem of a "way of no return", especially since blender allows to re-link objects in such a way that a change in an object will be automaticly aplied to all items that link to it. Its object orientated blahblahblahblah.
One thing is for sure: I survived -"xyz"- withoug getting totally nuts and -that- means something, I can tell you.
http://www.fireball.org/blender.PNGwhat I mean, this is what I got after just -ten days- working and learning. The same result would have taken me in "xyz"... a couple of weeks (even without the added structures).
Yes, I admit, I expect trouble coming up but I am still very confident that blender will do the job. I just have a good gutfeeling about that program. It just suits me.
Anyway, I hardly see any alternative:
a) I WONT use "xyz" again. It sucks. sucks. sucks, sucks!
b) I can not afford a XSI, Maja or whatever license. They are eitherway WAY to expensive or lack certain abilities. Thats not an option.
c) Blender has -everything- I need: Rather advanced sculting, rather smart UV-unwrapping, hair,fur, particles. Just.
Tl;dr : Blender no werking, no "panzer o1"
But don't worry. It will be fine, just as always =)