Most of that seems fixed in later versions (only tested 2018 though), for example edit normals definitely keeps the normals unlike your 2nd pic, and collapsing works without issues:
.Wiki and Mehran are right, better to duplicate & flip. One (rare) reason you might want to disable backface culling is if you want a light-transmission effect. Backlit leaves for example.
Of course he has a bones, but it's stylized and he have a lotof exaggeration in his muscles for example like Abigail I took him like a reference : http://streetfighter.wikia.com/wiki/Abigail
Beginning to define the muscles. Going to have to broaden references: more real life models. The head needs slightly more tuning. Correspondence with industry has begun. An example is shown at the end.
Can you post an example of the concept you are working from and maybe an image of the figure under the armor? I'm just curios if the issue with the proportions are in the armor itself or originate from the figure.
Unity is also doing such cool things, for example this: http://blogs.unity3d.com/2015/06/24/releasing-the-blacksmith/?utm_source=marketo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=unity_news_july_2015&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRouuKTMZKXonjHpfsX86OktWKC1g4kz2EFye%2BLIHETpodcMRMthMq%2BTFAwTG5toziV8R7TFLs15ycYQWhTk
its good but theres a lot of details missing, for example all the neon in that photo is beautifully layered into concentric patterns, yours is very simple in comparison. With these added details it could be truly great.
It was probably a packed texture, like Snefer's example here http://wiki.polycount.com/TextureAtlas And it sounds like it had different reflection masks in each of the RGB channels... glossiness, reflectivity, roughness, etc.
oh, its absolutely still useful--especially for architecture, where you can't afford to waste any drawcalls.Best example I can think of right now for this are the Assassin's Creed games.
polycount and quality have nothing to do with each other. Perfect recent example. 400 tri characters and 128x128 maps PURE QUALITY! http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=94379