I think each individual creator will have their own paths to use.

You see Kuroyume likes PhiBuilder to create, I like to use a donor cr2 or just build from scratch (bones). I just finished off some crazy boning for a LandMate I am creating, the boning was for all of the pistons that work. Each toe has 3 pistons, 3 toes per foot, plus the legs are animal like in that they have the backwards knee happening. Rigging is time consuming but it isn't rocket science.
All in all whatever way you choose will have it's own pitfalls.

As far as P7 lagging, shutting down...I don't have the amount of problems that I see posted here day after day...just goes to show that each rig will have it's own problems (let alone the software). Yes, Poser will decide to, "have nothing more to do with me" sometimes but that's about every 2-3 weeks, it will just turn off. Save, save, save whilst working.

Comitted to excellence through art.