i don't believe that references to all the actors between the hip and those actually used in the conforming piece(s) are necessary In this case, 'necessary' is a matter of degree. I've done both, and I always get better conforming when I use the same root and work all the way out from it than when I root it as its first part or it's imaginary parent part. So while a conformer will work, I've had much better luck avoiding mesh breakage, etc, with things done the root-to-one-past-extremity method.