I feel your pain, Pior! Maya seems to be ok with individual meshes that are highpoly, but has a real problem with files that contain lots of smaller meshes (Ie. anything tech). I've lost work countless times and now I tend to save a new version and export as obj as often as I can remember to. It still happens and I still…
OBJ doesn't support vertex colour. Also, I am a big advocate of single-app pipelines wherever possible. Not only is it cheaper (since usually if you're in a multi-app environment then some artists need both apps purely for conversion purposes), but it leaves your pipeline more contained, portable and "safe". Nothing worse…