I've been using it since it first went open source, and while it was (and still is to some degree) a beast to learn, it was pretty much always the best 3D softw

I've been using it since it first went open source, and while it was (and still is to some degree) a beast to learn, it was pretty much always the best 3D software feature for feature compared against other (quite expensive) software I was using / learning at that time. Over the intervening years it's improved in every possible way (except that it's still extremely complex and powerful, but no getting around that). The thing that helped me learn it then, and still helps now, is that there's a plethora of excellent tutorial videos and websites available (as well as these days many great books and courses), all of which can be easily found with your favorite search engine. For some really great resources, check out Blender Guru, CG Cookie, Blender 4 Noobs, and other such channels (found easily on YouTube and other video hosting websites, and on their own websites as well).