Also, this situation and similar ones have always mystified me. Why is Poser not in an infinite loop?

As you've set it up, consider this:

The specular consults the normals and the camera position and the light position.
The normals consult the geometry and the bump.
The bump consults the specular and the Spots.
The specular consults the normals and the camera position and the light position.
The normals consult the geometry and the bump.
...

Why does it work, or does it?

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Renderosity forum reply notifications are wonky. If I read a follow-up in a thread, but I don't myself reply, then notifications no longer happen AT ALL on that thread. So if I seem to be ignoring a question, that's why. (Updated September 23, 2019)