I have been using Rhino since 2000. I'm on my third version of the software
-  4.0. I've trained on solid model software's such as solid works, solid
edge, variations in the AutoCAD family as well as others.

IMHO it is the finest piece of software for developing designs and taking
them through to the heavy engineering phase (not all products need that). It
does lack material specifications so you can weight and balance according to
multiple materials in your design (unless this feature is in the latest
version  or beta?).

There is an FEA trial version out now. I haven't looked at it but I assume
you must be able to specify the material(s), mass etc otherwise the loads,
bending moments etc won't mean anything.

In sum there is nothing currently on the market at any price that approaches
the fast learning curve and development productivity of Rhino, especially as
it relates to compound curved surfaces (a NURBS based software's strength),
an area where solid modelers just don't cut it. You can create solids from
all of your surfaces in Rhino with modest effort though re-blending of the
adjoining surfaces is not one of its strengths.

Cheers,

Brian Feeney
DreamSpace Group