I guess like any good 3D program, you get more out of it with plugins that you have to buy/download (dpending if there free or not), but a good 3D program always has some way of getting round it, and allowing you to do it, but alot slower.
A plugin like possibly the tree pack, only makes the job easier for you.
It doesn't mean it can't be done step by step on the program itself anyway.
If your happy with the Bruce 5 interface, I don't see why not.