is the polygon you have on the glass shader two-sided? usually if its one sided and the normal is pointing in-wards, it should let light pass through :)
The bottom pose of the woman (at least I think it's a woman and not ronald mcdonald in drag) appears to be driving an invisible car. That surely must save some polygons.
The way you are terminating the geometry looks a bit weird and with the wrong triangulation, you could have edges that cross other polygons and may mess with the baker.
I'm sorry I do not know. And what is the end result needed? Maybe this script will help? http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/script/polygon-edges-to-curve
Not sure about the triangle shading on the upper tail and upper front legs. It's supposed to polygonal, but you're losing some of the shape definition of your art style.
1 is actually the most expensive. since it requires alpha transparency. Polygons are much cheaper than the memory and overdraw issues caused by use of alpha transparency.
Should have put a few more triangles into the legs. From the upper view, the polygons are very noticeable at the end of the socks, and that's the view a player will see the most.