The current pen tool is insufficient and inferior. If this was NOT the case, I would NOT have spent 2 years frustratingly trying to use it.

Just now I went back to Microsoft Expression Design and I was able to create ALL SORTS of shapes that I contend NOBODY can create as effectively or as easily using the pen tool in Adobe Illustrator.

The Microsoft "Convert Anchor Point" tool lets you switch between THREE node types, instead of TWO... The regular Bezier Curves you are familiar with, and an easier B-Spline mode that automatically establishes the smoothest curvature.

Think of it this way...    The converted vertex becomes a node and the adjacent two vertices are smoothed together... it looks like this:     .(

This guarantees the smoothest connections and avoids ALL OF the awkward blunt edges and inconveniences that the current Illustrator tool provides.

I am very disappointed with Adobe Illustrator. I just upgraded to CS6 and the interface is recolored but the layout is still messy and chaotic. There are 4 or 5 different color screens and you have to move to the far left of the screen over to the far right too often. There is no apparent way to customize the tools, such as wanting any other than 6 points in the polygon tool. Creating colors and swatches is frustrating when they're not saved between files. Properties on objects are dumped in at the top rather than having a properties list with a lot of options.

The program snaps to everything and there is no way to press a key to disable snapping for precise control. There are 5 or 6 different types of snapping that have to be turned off individually and in different places.

Now... I am an educator and I have the ability to motivate people to learn or to not learn any particular software. If I cannot learn to effectively use this POS after spending 2 years trying to learn it. If I am more effective after 6 months in Microsoft Software even though I use a Mac, then you simply do have an inferior product and I suggest that people who believe otherwise should try the other software.

I am disappointed you have not honored my previous post in the matter. If you are building the premier Vector Graphics tool then you should seriously consider adding a B-Spline tool that is central to the functionality and purpose of the whole piece of software.