No doubt, that you have more control in post....and it's also my prefered method for creating this effect...now with Photoshop CS, and I've bought some Plugins for this effect -> Frischluft Lenscare

my method just shows, how this can be achieved within MAYA with good control, you just have to use the aim on your goal, and finished...the goal is sharp, everthing is blurred in dependance to it's distance to the camera...was just to show. I know it's not the best way but the best way in MAYA in my opinion