Ive been using lightwave since the Amiga days and I just recently started to learn Maya myself... they are similar enough to make the transition easy and if you are artistic you will definately appreciate the new modeling ideas introduced in Maya. Ive only been using Maya now for about a month and a half and I havnt touched Lightwave since (thats not at all to say that LW is a bad program or that I will never use it, I will, it still rocks). Maya is Buzz Lightyear and Lightwave is Woody... I guess that makes sense... Definately give it a shot.
Fall down seven times, get up eight...