Scale and seams aren't an issue. I've come across some monsters out there where the mapping is, well, to be nice about it, less than desirable. Stretching is unavoidable -- so you have to try and compensate for it in odd ways, and the results are just never nice. There is one other critter I know of that is mapped this well -- that one eyed wonder by ethesis (I think, lol) There's little else that is as hard to map as a creature, but has as great an importance for it. Mapping can make or break it for me.

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)