"We are trying to keep the price low and in reach of the hobbyist as well as supporting the small studio. We are actively trying to make it so MOI3D is supported properly in Oct"

I tried Octane myself and because it was still clearly some way from being completed and because I found it complex for a beginner like myself I bought Keyshot instead. However, I certainly wouldn't have an issue with paying for a beta version of Octane that turns into a license and I think the low price point of Octane is great. I decided on Keyshot because I don't have time to learn how to use Octane right now BUT (just like MoI) the Octane price is low enough that I could afford to buy an Octane license in future and experiment. In fact, that's probably what I'll do.

All in all, Octane seems to me to be a likely win for all people interested in using GPUs in 3D modelling. The combination of MoI and Octane in particular looks like a potent one at a very reasonable price point.

Regards
Dan