RE: Building from plans
I did, but not for my models. It just works out that it was good for models also. I also did it in two steps. I first got a student version and then when Rel 4 came out, I did an upgrade. My total cost was somewhat less thant the $780 and spread over two "payments" a couple years apart.
The cost is why I posted the link for the free CAD program. I havent tried the free one. I did try a couple other CAD programs before I settled on Rhino. It was the first one I could half understand on first use, well maybe 10%, but it was way better than any of the others.
Don