CGRookie, even in Advanced Render the DOF is unavailable if you use PyroCluster (fire, smoke, dust).
Brian, both XSI and LW do not support Second Life.
I can not say too much about LW, but I watched some good LW modeling videos and I can say at least something about modo wich is developed by ex Newtek people. It seems to me LW is more suitable for box modeling. However, you can still use Hexagon for modeling. Even with LW. XSI can handle more dense meshes than both Hex and LW can.
XSI... Let me say that. For me the organic modeling started from Hex. And despite all the differences XSI looks more natural for me. I can't explain why, but that's a fact. Furthermore, if they only would add local subdivision and snapping options like XSI has to Hexagon 3.0 (and would fix the bugs), I will be completely happy (or, maybe I will not, and I immediately will ask for deformers, weightmaps et al
). I'm sorry, currently I have no time to be more specific, but many things are much easier in Hex as compared to XSI, but Hex misses many ones also.
So the question is what's more important to you? Modeling like in Hex or the rest of workflow like in Carrara? If it's modeling, then neither LW, nor C4D. I was always amazed by the art made in C4D, but C4D way of modeling was the first and biggest con for me. I'm not talking about good or bad, they are just too far from Hex. If it's the whole workflow, than it will be neither LW, nor XSI, but C4D.