"I've found that when using lo-res squares I get artifacts (horizontal black lines when using in the P4 renderer, and a mish-mash with the FireFly renderer)" Slight displacement/increase in shadow bias to eliminate them for the most part, hon. Also, uncheck smooth polys in the properties panel for the object itself. Gimbal lock hits the cloth plane squarely -- the key (unless you want to change the joints in it) is to move x first, then y.

thou and I, my friend, can, in the most flunkey world, make, each of us, one non-flunkey, one hero, if we like: that will be two heroes to begin with. (Carlyle)