thomas here, from Germany.
I'm a network administrator just dabbling in animation, I never quite got my head around the other big packages when animator friends or colleagues would let me try my hand at them - you know..
A:M got me reeled in with wmvdemo.wmv - I ordered a few minutes after having watched the clip; especially the speed and ease of the creation of that vase impressed me after my dismal attempts with unnamed products (entirely my fault, I'm sure - but A:M just looked like I could actually do it).
Am currently working my way through The Art of Animation:Master - a chapter/excercise per evening for now.
Using 11.something (Sorceress).