It seems trivial now, but prior to CS3, erasing vector paths was a multi-step process involving scissors and delete keys. CS3 introduced the , allowing you to drag over a vector shape and cut it cleanly. It understood paths, generating clean anchor points automatically. This alone saved hours per project.
Live Color allowed real-time, non-destructive color exploration: adobe illustrator cs3
To run Adobe Illustrator CS3, you'll need a computer with the following specifications: It seems trivial now, but prior to CS3,