Does Ki-Cad or Eagle offer a similar functionality (I'm considering KiCad for my next home project).
I also use Altium (ver 6.9) for work (but I can use it at home too - it's allowed under their license).
I keep an eye on other pcb software packages (it is sort of a hobby) & I have found DipTrace to be about the best of the low end packages. It operates (from a user's perspective) in many similar ways to Altium & so the learning curve is not too great.
You can also import DipTrace schematics & pcbs into Altium via the P-Cad format. I often open up some track solder masks so that the wave soldering adds to the current carrying capability of the track (and/or increases the heat dispersal from the attached components) - but you cannot do this in DipTrace so an import into Altium to finish off is required. This allows me to order standard 1oz pcbs which saves money.
The new DipTrace beta version has some great screen advances over version 2.3.1.0, but it is full of bugs & I had to uninstall it & remove the registry keys, then re-install last year's full release as the bugs made it unproductive. They will fix most of these bugs no doubt before the full release which I would expect within the next 3 or 4 months.
If you grew up with Protel, then Circad is very easy to master as many of the user inputs are the same. It does however cost US$995 & is operated by just one programmer now who is in his late 50's/early 60's ............... so what will happen to the software when he retires?
I did not like KiCAD because I have no choice to change the pcb board background colour. Black is all you get. This may not worry some people of course.
You can do quite a lot with Eagle, but you will hate the user commands if you grew up with Protel/Altium. If you think with a German perspective instead of an American/UK/Australian perspective, you will no doubt be fine (a bit like finding your way around the menus in a Samsung mobile phone before Samsung saw the light & moved to Android).
Library component generation is the thing to check out in these low end packages. In some it is not too bad (ie Diptrace), in some it is a pain (Design Spark) & even Target 3001 was not as easy as in Altium.
What I hate about Altium is the transfer process from Schematic to pcb. In DipTrace, Circad, Target 3001 & Design Spark, this transfer process is quick & easy. The autoplacement in DipTrace is very quick & easy to set up. Just lock the components in place where you need them, run autoplace & the result is not a whole lot different on boards of say 100 components or less to what is achieved in Altium.
Anyway, just my 2c worth.