If of interest and value.
The problem of modelling detailed design aspects--in any modelling app, including the brilliant Modo---is the huge sized files that can result.
Often making rendering times a nightmare.

Though I agree some basic modeling shaping of areas in MoI is very beneficial.

In Carrara, apart from using the images I have exampled before, we have the brilliant Shader plugin Veloute2 of which an example is attached.

I am sure you can attain similar results--as shaders--in Modo.

Keep the idea of the potential options in mind.
Brian