Well, I went out on a limb after scouring the web for a trial version of Hash's Animation Master and ended up buying a 1 year license. I had to, after previewing the animations produced within the application I was sold.
I'm sure they all can be replicated in max but, I was thinking I aint got £3000 but I did have £30 for a years license and if I use it to produce my animations for the 2d and 3rd year of attending university then its money well spent.
Have you ever seen something and just knew you had to have it, thats how I felt. I love all the applications out there and would love to be an expert in all of them but I would be happy just being good in one of them.
Plus it feels better to pay someone for the tools you are using if you want to make money from them. I'm happy that I have had the exposure I have had to using max and maya incase I ever got offered a job working for somewhere that uses them but for now that's a few years away from happening.