Hey, I have been wondering lately about the low/high poly transfer map techniques for generating surface details and would like your opinions on whether there is really any benefit to this method anymore?
Tools like NDO2 have made it possible to create amazing normal maps in photoshop and as an artist I find this far more efficient and natural than trying to model all that detail. The time required for modeling the equivalent surface detail makes it seem like a dying technique.
I understand that low/high poly transfer maps would be preferential for generating smoothed edges, which has become synonymous with generating a sense of realism on low end geometry i.e. a cube with bevelled edges, apart from that I am really struggling to understand the real benefit of this older technique.
I am by no means a texture master however and if I am completely off the mark then please let me know as I am here to learn 
Cheers, K