Using 2^n sized textures is very very important for real time. You won't see a real time texture that is anything other than 128x128, 256x256, and so on. It obviously is not irrelevant to real time rendering; else there would not be such a huge importance attached, and universal adherance, to the rule.
I don't know how much bearing it would have on software rendering.

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Quote - ...What I wish is that poser made use of normal maps. Its a great way to get a high res looking model with very little geometry...

According to Stonemason, you can use normal maps already in the gradient bump. Haven't tried it myself; but have no doubt that he knows what he's talking about.

Friends don't let friends use booleans.