I understand what your saying. It's complicated for sure. If you look at most character mats they have shadows already in the texture and specularity is a real can of worms because you don't know what kind of lights will be used. It seems to me that in a proper environment you wouldn't need spec maps. except maybe in areas we know to be more shiny and then only sparingly. I didn't mean to suggest that vendors don't care but as you said don't know.