As a tech artist Max 2017 is very feature rich. MCG modifier and animation controllers are the start of something amazing. After a couple of years of weak python support it's finally ready for prime time. Geodesic voxel binding for the skin modifier works great.
I just wanted to comment on the 'retraining' part. Not to derail, but this is unfortunately true with all software, most importantly in-house software. Destroys a lot of companies' ability to compete. Does this have an impact on Max's development? I don't know. I think we're seeing more fixes and additions to Maya as of…