Michael,

I search the net for this but as you say the subject is vast and most research on the subject are still just that. And yes, one of the export cmd of 3D-Coat give pretty good result.

@Steve:

if I was a decent subD modeler I'd do just what you suggested but I'm not. What I'm trying to do for now is I try to create a pretty basic NURBS version of the model in MOI, export it as a dense quads and tris to either Blender or 3D-Coat and I try my best to add the details I want. It's seems to be easier with 3D-Coat, at least for me.
Here is an example.











I should have mentioned these models are intended for CNC.

Thanks,
Felix