"It is odd since almost every other value (for JPs, origins, etc.) is specified in the UNIVERSE's (world) coordinate system." Not really. An object will load in whatever position it was saved in, this is determined relitive to the universe. However added to this default position will be any translations of the parenting hierachy it is attached to. So a chest will have its default position (which is defined in the object mesh), plus any translation of the chest, plus any translation of the abdomen, plus any translation of the hip, plus any translation of the BODY. We should distinguish between the default position of an object which is a function of the obj file, and any translations which which are a function of the cr2. It seems to me that the Center Point of an of an actor or prop is NOT specified in the UNIVERSE's (world) coordinate system. Move a figure's BODY and the values for it's JPs don't change, therefore they are not relitive to the universe.