Max is easier for quickly knocking stuff out in my opnion. Admitedly i havn't touched Maya for a few version numbers but i always found poly modeling simpler and more user friedly in Max. Also there is generally slightly more support for max both online and books. You can pick up old version Max books for discount rates.I've used Maya to do field layouts. It's $2k a license, but you can download a free learning copy as long as you don't mind a big watermark on it. Be prepared to spend some time learning how to use it though, and you're going to need a fairly good computer (it's too slow on my laptop to bearably use).
Its not rocket science to stumble over a err, 'special' copy of Max out there on the interweb if you know what i mean. Or maybe send me a PM....
I do agree that you have a point, yeah double standards but i object to video game piracy mainly because I've worked in the biz myself and know how hard some people work and how tight the margins can be. Also when refering to a title like GHTP its not exactly gonna get record breaking sales and it needs every possible purchase it can get from its core audience. Warped logic maybe, but that's the way i take it.now i dont usually go looking for arguments but werent you busy lambasting people the other day for even thinking of possibly getting a hacked copy of GHTP:Maxed?
Now it seems your positively OFFERING copies of this Design software?
Strikes me as being somewhat hypocritical, and soemthing best left to PM's if at all.