Well ecxuse me, but it is not just as much of a complication. I was assuming the original question was about building objects for use in Poser. Maybe it wasn't. If it was, the quickest, most effective way, bar none, is to set smoothing angles based on material names.
Good grief, exporting and importing objects, creating figures and props - what a waste of time.
You asked for an easier way and I provided it.