I am not saying dont try, I just feel that you wont get very far with this method as it has been tried by many before you (using LW plugin,max plugins, Ive even seen it tried with truespace). The reason the plugin you are talking about is used by a lot of people is because it is Max specific, and to be honest it runs well in max and is used for more than just hair although I wish some of the in-house plugins for doing this i have seen were released commercially). Being an artists doesnt mean you have to go the hard way round either.