forget MEL - look at Python. Python is extremely powerful in Maya and you can do a lot with it, depending on your pipeline / task. If you want to go into that direction you can investigate script based scene assembly systems, how scripts can help with modular environment workflows or with baking maps and exporting.
Hey PolyCount, I'm rapidly approaching my final year at University studying computer games modeling and animation and I'm struggling to nail down a subject for my dissertation. I've decided to go down the path of an environment artist and want my dissertation to be something that helps me in that area. Here's are some…