jemmyell, I will suggest the software I use being mastercam but all you would need is a level 1.
Cad-cam consulting is your local dealer,I would suggest calling them and seeing about a demo.
this is alwas good with any software you are looking at.
Bring a project like you have been talking about and have them go thru it real fast for you .
you can contact them at
www.cad-cam.com
Once you have done this and go and look at others take the same projet to the other softwares to see how they compare.
this will help with the botton line decesion.
Good luck James