RE: CAD at Home
I have been in engineering and working with CAD systems for over 15 years. By far, the best software for me is MicroStation. I have used this software on the professional level to do everything from create models, movies as well as design drawings.
If you can imagine it, you can draw it using MicroStatioin. When a company purchases a licensed copy, they are also awarded a "Home Use Copy" for allowing the users to take a copy home for non-commercial use. Thus, this is my design software of choice at home.