You can FEEL the paint as it builds up and takes shape. More than a drawing program, Painter is an artist's studio and everything in it is enchanted. Pull brushes out of thin air, change the canvas, change the colors, blend, erase, transform, and laugh. This not only brings out the artist in me, it has brought out the kid. Once you've started using Painter 6, you'll see what the other graphic design and image creation software is attempting to do.
Painter is worth every penny and then some.
The only way this could be better is if it were used on a newer Mac. But even on my four year old Performa, it's amazing. Visit MetaCreations and see some of the artwork produced using Painter. Stretch, rotate, tilt, you name it.