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Simple answer - ignorance and tradition. To elaborate, if your workplace has only used MapInfo, if it's the only GIS software taught in school etc and you're not particularly interested in widening your horizons, then it is only way to get stuff done. Historically, MapInfo has been cheaper, so it is easier to find money in the budget also.

MapInfo is getting bigger, heavier and slower and it just serves "information" as its name. Previously, it was good to use MapInfo for vector editing, map layer preperation, printing and database conversion. Nowadays, all these things can be done with QGIS or ArcGIS. If it's fast, compact, light-weighted and cheap, MapInfo can be used for some standard GIS applications. One important thing MapInfo is left behind other applications, which is "Internet" thing. Poor WMS, WFS and no WMST service with this app. Direct data format reading is poor as well. Of course, no raster processing is the biggest negative thing. I prefer MapInfo to be compact and cheap, not like now.

jorrarro correct it just a matter of feels, you said that you came from ArcGIS and Arcview users, that is the first barrier for you , you expect same function and tools just like arcgis/arcview. the second one is the purpose, if you have a lot geoprocessing or analisis stuff, yeah you cant compare arcgis with mapinfo, but if you want to make a nice map, go for mapinfo. but I found that the recent mapinfo have a really nice improvement, if you combine it with some extension like encom or some others , you got nice GIS Software suite

Hi Lurker! I'm sorry too for the late reply. As you I trying to classify UAV point clouds, and yes, Lidar derivates are different. Lidar got echo numer (or full wave proccesing), and Image derivates got 3 (or more) color bands. My main goal is extract buiding from cloud points, but I'm sure that I'm far behind your steps. I got soid theroetical background, but I almost got not time for test, (and I don't plan to trask/deliver anything 'till I'm not sure of the process) Please take a look to one or both "Lidar analyst" and "feature analyst" Looks promising Art

Mapinfo is a tool to low technical GIS Users, so 6 or 5 year losing market on other options, yours pals are good people but are simple in GIS needs.