>> It actually doesn't really bother me. I just generally expect MoI to be used alongside many other applications frequently.

I'm glad more developers are taking this attitude. I don't think it'll be too many more years before monolithic packages like 3ds max and Maya are considered antiquated. Combine Silo and Moi with Messiah:Studio, Zbrush, and a standalone renderer like Maxwell and you're out the door for less than the cost of 3ds... and you don't have to pay for what you don't use.

>> But let me ask you - from your hobbyist point of view, what do you think is the breaking point where something becomes too expensive and out of reach?

A comma. ;)