I guess, the Essentials bundle content pack is just a minimal starter (although somewhat expensive with the export license) to get the taste of the process and have some base to work with, but it should not be mandatory to buy other content from Realillusion’s store because you can import assets created in other tools, right?
At least their editions comparison page has import OBJ and FBX specified for CC3.
So, you are not locked into their content ecosystem at all. If only they have good set of tutorials for creating custom content and there are no hidden license terms that mess something up.
In general, it’s nice to see their CC3 Pipeline edition being updated to become a standalone product. But I suspect that there still will be some character design activities that will need iClone 7 (for example, creating new animation clips through body and face pupeteering).
So, it’s still somewhat confusing for newcomers. At least, after you have bought CC3 Pipeline, they seem to offer a special member price for iClone, too, but I’m not sure if that discounted price still will be there after the Cyber Monday and other holidays.
Anyway, I’ve seen some serious people look skeptically at Daz3D saying that “it is meant for po*n” and that it has crappy materials, not optimal for UE4 and that Daz3D characters have some kind of their own “uncannyness” that can be recognized immediately etc. Hopefully. Realillusion’s products will be treated more seriously and receive wider use, which means more tutorials, more content and more integration with UE4.
Their normal price without discount is somewhat too high for an indie dev or a hobbyist, but it all depends what their target audience is and what reputation RI will maintain.