Thanks so much for that explanation.
I think it helps everyone to detail all these things (especially things like having to alter your scale to accommodate your renderer). The more you know about the processes and the details the more appreciation you get for what the final result is.
If you ever have a few minutes, surf on over to
Military Meshes.com... there you will see the work of some true masters of high poly modeling. Their output, often for books, displayable prints and posters, and films is nothing short of breathtaking. Still, it's amazing how a low poly model, with the right blend of 2D texturing tricks and smart modeling, can, at times, rival the visual impact of some of the high-poly work. All depends on what the "finished product" is supposed to be!