I would like to have a new toy and I have been thinking about getting a 3D modelling software, either modo or LightWave. I know modo is the new, modern contender with lots of potential but, perhaps, still somewhat uncertain status in the future. LightWave, on the other hand, seems to be the old 'champion' with lots of users, great plugin support etc, but with uncertain future as well as the old code will, at some point, be replaced with the new LightWave Core, which real capabilities seem to be uncertain for the time being. I know that there are many people here with modo and/or LightWave experience. Which one, in your opinion, would be a better choice and why?
I know that in good hands both software are capable of producing great pictures. I, on the other hand, am just a hobbyist, who wants, with limited spare time, to play around with the program, try this and that, and hopefully, every now and then come up with some semi-decent renders. I will not be making any real work (money) with the program and I am not focused on modelling anything special, so a versatile, fast and easy-to-learn program could be good for me. I know that Terragen and LightWave have made a good combination, but I must admit that I am impressed by some of the modo features, including the apparently very capable multi-threaded renderer, and, as far as I know, also modo works nicely with the .lwo-files. The prices do not differ much, so, what to do, that is the question.