Filter Forge creations targeted at surpassing other filters?

It's occurred to me in an ever-growing capacity that some Filter Forge creations I see here are either very comparable, or can noticeably surpass filters available elsewhere — both in artistic, technical, and bang-for-buck areas. (Wait, can I see "both" referring to 3 criteria? Hee.)

For example, I was looking at uberzev's upcoming jigsaw puzzle, which already has me wondering if it'd end up ultimately be more compelling than the Puzzle plugin from Alien Skin's Xenofex 2. I just downloaded Crapadilla's incinerate, and am already liking it more than some of the other flame plugins I've seen.

With so many filters you can add to Filter Forge, there doesn't appear to be many compelling reasons why someone would choose another set of restrictive plugins for a similar price (at least over the long-term).

Has anyone else been thinking about this? It fascinates me, to say the least. One might think that as part of the rising filter suggestions here, some of us would like to go, "Make one that does what X plugin does — but better!"

As far as textures go FF is already better than any competition I've seen.

However the effect filters still have a ways to progress before they can truly replace their dedicated cousins. It will happen in the near future though.

BTW thanks for mentioning my Puzzle filter, but it doesn't come close to Puzzle Pro

@Kraellin: Wish my previous searches had turned it up! Do you have an URL?

@plugsnpixels: I saw the other thread you started and am currently reading through your magazine, it looks so colorfully laid out — which I really like!

I found Filter Forge soooo easy to get into. Point-and-click! Compared to, say, Genetica or Texture Maker, it was literally a snap to download filters, play with presets, and use the variations for extra flavors. I do agree actually making filters has a steeper learning curve (I haven't created any yet), but getting started and just using the filters is no harder than any other well-designed Photoshop plugin, particularly once you grab ahold of some of Filter Forge's unique attributes.

I found Terragen (the first version, I haven't used v2) very difficult to get started in comparison, altho I've been amazed at the quality of renderings it's produced in various galleries I've come across.

I really want to see Filter Forge for Mac too, already I've recommended it to some friends, and they were like, "Wha? No Mac version?"

Also remember how user-created content driven Filter Forge is, that's not just marketing-speak but a true and distinct delineator of its prolific versatility. Also, how you can get it for free is pretty special too.

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Torley wrote: some Filter Forge creations I see here are either very comparable, or can noticeably surpass filters available elsewhere — both in artistic, technical, and bang-for-buck areas.

This is certainly true for some of our filters:
http://www.filterforge.com/filters/1857.html
http://www.filterforge.com/filters/879.html

Compare with this one:
http://www.alienskin.com/ec5t/filters/dplate.html

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plugsnpixels wrote: Cost may be another factor

We're working on this

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Torley wrote: getting started and just using the filters is no harder than any other well-designed Photoshop plugin

This is exactly why we decided to separate the Filter Editor from the main interface.