VS
Now I don't want to call anyone out. DDMX, DJ, Wilson, Gio, etc. were all super talented and skilled artists, and times were different then both in video game art and also the game itself. As well as computers. I'm sure with some time to knock off rust, they could make incredible comparable work with the right motivation. DJ probably still knows more about all of it than I do, and I've long been a hobby learner for years.
If I remember correctly (I came into the community when everything fell apart... oddly enough.. seems that is a periodic occurrence), those older models were usually a team effort, and almost all of them use the same front end made by Eswkaads (I think? Spelling??).
The newer models not only have more detail, the good ones are entirely baked from high polys and edge split free, comparable in poly count, and fully max out the spectacular map capabilities. What more? They are entirely made by one person, and no parts from other bikes. (Im taking the top models here that are usually sold from the likes of Benjii, JRE, Jay, Jeremy, etc.)
Look at the gear. Look at the norms. You open a set of gear in photoshop it's damn near life looking as if you just cut that shit up and flattened it out.
On top of it all, and again I joined at the tail end of all this, the old community was not without controversy. Sure, mostly everyone out grew the game since then, but mainly they were ran out as their last few project were riddled with leeching and ripping, and many chose to keep things private to friends and teams. I remember because Jones, you yourself were on those teams and in those friend groups, and I was not. I hated it. So what did I do? Started to make my own content.
I think it's great to encourage people to support the community, and I truely do, especially if that person is learning. However, you do no favors by condemning and talking down creators who chose to support themselves first. It's really a tough thing to understand untill you are the one making it, trust me, I was the one saying the same thing 5 years ago from the opposite side.
Anyways, thats my 2 cents. Sure, people who are selling are no way helping the community thrive, but the community doesn't help the community either. There are no flying fucks given about the creator, only the creators content. That's just the cold nature of it all.
Hat's off to those who can release things for free continually. I'm not that guy anymore.