My guess is that reducing the file size of each figure by ~85% should make a lot of things go faster and Poser be less prone to catatonia. Have you thought of going into Body on some of your figures and setting Scale (not X/Y/Z, never touch those in Body) lower? It will vary the heights. If the head comes back too small, go to head and take it up 3-6%. Be sure to scale each of the eyes up an equal amount. The clothing may or may not automatically adjust to the Body scale. Lock also has a strange effect on this. The hair will need to be scaled like the head.