I still am doing personnal projects with lightwave but i am trying to learn maya as well. Though the concepts of animation are similar the interfaces with light wave and maya are not. So just trying to learn both. But I agree with you , Lightwave is kick ass. The only thing i prefer in maya is the actual animation. I feel it is easier to animate in maya then it is in lightwave. But as far as modeling, lightwave beats maya handely

Regards,

Andrew