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Having completed a 10 module BIM course I confess to having mixed views about it.

In terms of quick and dirty forms for explaining / investigating a design in 3D - Google Sketchup is far simpler to use, far more intuitive and is free for the non-pro version, which also will run on almost any computer post 2002.

BIM OTOH requires more resources and is vastly more expensive to install, train to use, and run. As a means of drawing off quantities it is accurate up to a point, but I would be very wary of putting it on a pedestal.

Other CAD packages, such as the FAR cheaper ProgeCAD can include tags for components. None do the job of a quantity surveyor or an architectural technician, never mind a CAD draughtsman.

Issues arising on site are preceded by issues at design stage, and some architects simply cannot "talk" to machines. They need people. And those people need jobs.

Hard-selling another AutoDesk product in a recession isn't doing anyone any favours. And I see the other article pushing it is restricted to paid subscribers.

GET OVER YOURSELVES BDONLINE!

DON'T BECOME A BIM RESELLER!

We're in a recession partly because we believed the line that paying top money to executives brought in competence - in Banks, it doesn't!
Similarly paying huge money for software packages doesn't bring in work or ensure that competent work is done.