regarding "more expensive setup = better" I totally agree, so funny to see studio demos that actually suck because people operating are not trained to see what looks "real" compared to a lot of DIY setups that look stellar compared to those studios. Which is good, because it means that old vfx guys like me are still worth every penny, because we've studied and understand all the basics long before newbies get excited by AI and real-time tools. All are as good as someones understanding of what makes images look "real" and why? What we've learned is to de-construct reality and how it can be simulated in 3D or compositing....
