The scripting interface is just more limited and harder to use than Max or Maya as well, you pretty much have to recompose macro strings using a scripting language like python or pearl.
(Full disclosure: I'm an ardent Modo fanboy and have been using it since 201.) In a word, yes. Caveats to follow. Modo gives an absurd amount of control and ease of use where subD modeling and retopology are concerned. In addition, there are tons of freely available scripts and plugins that extend and build upon Modo's…