Alright, so.... I downloaded GIMP to do some comparisons and have realized that this program is ridiculously difficult to control. Not saying I did not know how to use most of the features... because I did, they were just allot harder to access. It was also difficult to adjust brush setting and to insert layers and tamper with them.
Smudging in Gimp would be nearly impossible to get an outcome that you may see from some of the best smudgers in tagging, and smudging recently seems to be playing a rather large role.
I also know that PS is so widely used by professionals and is remarkably easy to pirate online. Because this allot of the Pro's and the Knowledgeable/Talented graphic artist make things like Brushes, tutorials and PSD's more well.. accessible and come in a much larger quantity and quality
With all that being said.. GIMP isn't a terrible program. GIMP just seems to be less user friendly and lacks some of the quality adding features that PS gives to it's customers and users.
Of course a GIMP user could make a nice signature depending on what style you use,
Smudging is far out of the question. I think if it was GIMP vs PS, the PS user would win most the times. Of course the GIMP could win once or twice, but the PS has the advantage, plus the resources.
But then again this is all opinion based and to each person their own. No use arguing about it.
I honestly with all my heart would rather you use PS.