The saturation point for digital graphics software was:
Adobe CS5
Autodesk 2011 with VRay plugin
That’s when all lighting, effects and partical physics had been mastered.
I would also throw unreal engine 2 in there.
Nothing much ever since and whatever new releases offer today can be achieved with those software versions and abit of scripting anyways.
Adobe became trash with their forceful subscription
Following
Wueh! VRay killed my GT 710. Went back to Mental Ray. It had great texture attributes though.
Mental ray is good for particle physics and reflections only though. Vray + Raytracing + HDR Lighting will give you real life stuff. Mental is included by default if you get the standard version.
The subscription is way cheaper than buying the perpetual license though. The subscription also gives you access to the whole suit of adobe products and access to adobe assets.
Nah, they can eat shit. But the law is catching up with dobes and others with their similar practices