something I like about working on mesh: I used to keep an empty skybox just to work on shoes. Rezzing out a couple of pair of boots with buckles and details would be hundred and hundreds of prims, and
even with 800 or more available, I'd sometimes have to have a really awkward work flow for texturing things (rezzing and taking things back in groups).
even when the dtails are high on mesh, shoes are so small the PIs stay mostly low. I have a couple of houses and a lot of decor out now, and I keep marveling at how I can rez out a dozen pair of shoes and work