Gix, I know what you mean. I'm still using C4D in work, and I find
myself holding the ctrl key down sometimes to scroll around, I really
miss it lol. Haven't got round to downloading 2.47 yet, but hopefully
will at the weekend and have a look at it.
Banj, the BEST thing about Blender is the fact that there are SOOO many tutorials both text and video that walk you through it that you can pick it up quite easily. It's the quickest 3D app I've learned yet (still a lot to learn tho) And even some of the modelling video tutorials that I've gone through have helped me with my general modelling skills in C4D. I love it, and of course, the biggest bonus, it's FREE 
One, just to finish off I don't think I posted this before , but I'd been working through the Gus character rigging tutorial and have got this far, hopefully get round to animating him soon.
COME VISIT MY GALLERY...