What can I say ,I've never been any good at following the rules.

I would normal map a character but the mech tank is getting zBrush VUMaps
even if I mapped the mech tank the normal way if ya didn't have software that could burn shaders in to textures
like allegorithmic ,quixel you couldn't make textures for it anyways.

ya the bevel makes tri's at the ends but I don't have problems with Tri's but I know the SubD rule that SubD meshes are to be 100% quads
but to make the mech tank 100% quads would rase the polycount to 600,000 .so 100% quads aren't worth the 600,000 polycount price.

CGI is a magical world for me so I try different app's with different work flows. 

I don't think there's a wrong work flow.As long as your having fun. :)

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The Artist that will fight for decades to conquer their media.
Even if you never know their name ,your know their Art.
Dark Sphere Mage Vengeance