bump maps & normal maps do not raze the topology or polycount

displacement maps & vector maps will raze the topology and polycount

Nope, sorry, I have to step in here.

The first line is correct, bump and normal maps do not raise topology or polycount. = Correct. They visually "fake" 3D without actually doing anything in 3D.

The second line has an error => Displacement maps will raise topology, = correct, but it WILL NOT increase polycount.
Polygon count stays exactly the same as before.

A displacement maps "displaces" the topology at pixel level, and only the pixels that are inside the UV_Map unwrapping are used.
Finer detail can be obtained by using bigger displacement maps from 4096x4096 up to . . . . the highest I went during testing was 16Kx16K (Poser has no limit on texture maps size.) All pixels that are inside the UV unwrapping will effectively "diisplace the topology in 3D space at pixel level.".
The more pixels/surface, the higher the detailing.

Carry on.

Poser 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, P8 and PPro2010, P9 and PP2012, P10 and PP2014 Game Dev
"Do not drive faster then your angel can fly"!