That can be true.Stealing or copying something is a lot easier than creating something.Sometimes it is not,though.Take Signs II or III and Magic FPS.They are similar in a lot of ways but different in others.And while I am not the greatest modeler in the world I can safely say for the most part my models are like no one else's... which may be a good or bad thing.
Competiton does bring out the best and worst in people.If you have only one person making a product they might not have the incentive to create something high quality or give good support,etc.If someone knows someone else is making a similar product they will go out of their way to make something unique and that will stand out from the rest.
But,as Higgins said,competition can get ugly.Some people will lie,cheat,steal and sell their own mother to win.Those people have to live with themselves.That is their punishment.
I think Duke has been around long enough to know how it works. Although I disagree with some of it if you put crap you can get flamed.That is just the way it is.
I am looking forward to seeing what he does with this project.We all have something in FPSC we are good at and we need the help of others to accomplish what we cannot.
Duke has made some nice looking models therefore I believe this is not beyond him to do.
Besides,I like new apps.Gives me new toys to play with and save me time so I can do more important things like avvravate the heck out of my fellow forum members.
FLa
Where you can find my demo:http://www.savefile.com/files/6970524