If you use Zbrush in the pipeline, then Maya LT is not so fantastic as GoZ doesn’t work. Also Blender, a freeware, have a complete renderer, & have an unofficial GoB that support to work well.
Also Blender is ever improving, & will get more support when it gets more popular.
I think the main advantage Maya LT have is that many people learn 3D apps in school or otherwise using non commercial version of the Maya Software & wanted to continue using Maya in some form when they wanted to start making commercial game, or their student licence ran out. And maybe the animation tools are better.
Yes, at 30 bucks or higher you pay, depends on where you live, its relatively cheap, but its still a considerable amount, but we did not live in a vacuum, & there are alternatives out there, blender, Modo to name a few.
Also they made a new file format which I believe cannot be read by Normal Maya, so if you wished to make high quality render for your game character, for instead, you can’t just port over to Normal Maya.
Not saying its completely bad. It still have the animation/model tools many people are familiar with. But depends on your needs, it may not be the most feasible choice, which is a shame, as only a few additionals (or maybe they have a version, slightly more expensive, but have more features, & using native Maya file), I will have no hesitation.
I understand they do not want big game studios & movie studios to use it, but from what I gather, they seems to think non AAA studio are only interest in simple visual fidelity characters and environment. While its true for many Indies, but some of us wanted to create high fidelity 3D asserts.