There is a blur script that cleans up multiple meshes materials and collapses it as one. http://www.neilblevins.com/blurscripts/blurscripts.htm Edit: It's called CollapseSubObjectMaterial. 2nd Edit: It's the way I work by the way, if I attach two meshes together I always use the 2nd option and then run a material cleaner…
No, as with most scripts you have to add them manually to the UI, gives you more flexibility in how you want to invoke them... quad, menu, toolbar, or keyboard hotkey, or all of the above if you want.
Ah yes, can't forget that problem! :) Rejoice though, theres an easy fix, this one doesn't use a script if you don't want to use one. Select the mesh you want to attach the other pieces to, Collapse the UVW Unwrap modifier onto your editable poly. (it won't forget your settings) Then attach the other pieces to your…