>> This seems like the best solution for what I am trying to accomplish. Will running MergeOBJ maintain all of the MoI vertex map info?

Yes it will, that's the main purpose of it ... and you can split the object into different layers in modo after the merge without problems.


>> I guess I have one more general question... most of my modeling is archviz related, however, I enjoy occasionally messing around with stuff that is more organic in nature. Is it a good idea to build a model in MoI and then bring it into modo to turn into an SDS object? Or is using subdivision surfaces on an imported object going to completely mess with the vertex maps?

Yes it will lost (or wrong), but it's not really a problem because if you apply the sds algo on a MoI object, it will be a mess in the topology anyway. So you will have to clean it 'by hand'. Generally when working in sds you keep an overall shading smooth angle around 89.9 ... if you need a sharp angle you can either slice the edge loop to increase sds tension, use edge weight or even just split the geometry.

Maybe we can ask seneca to see if he can do something in his merge layers script to keep this info alive.