RE: solidworks vs rhino
I use both. Solidworks and the beta Rhino 3D. I haven't really given Rhino a fair shake for 3D modeling as it doesn't seem that intuitive to me (however if you have used gmax or 3dstudiomax and their ilk, the user interface is quite similar. What I do use Rhino for is its ability to take a 3D surface and then flatten it. So, for wing skins for example, I export the skin from SW into an IGES file and then open it in Rhino. Then I flatten it in rhino and save it as a dxf...amazing time saving feature.
Good luck,
John