I'll check the export all maps zplugin and see what options are there.

Ok, I checked and there is only really an option to use tangent space.

That DOES yield better results than I originally got, but still is no where near a good replacement for displacement maps.

That said, I do see more detail being being preserved in the normal map, but the unacceptable tradeoff is the loss of the displaced mesh "in/out" rendering.

 

Way too many people take way too many things way too seriously.