parent transform to vertex?
 

is it possible to parent or point/orient constrain a transformNode to a single vertex of another node?

yes.
try to look for a script with a similar name on highend.
i dont remember at the moment, but its there. look in the bonus tools too. i might be there also.

thx vlad, bonustools for maya 6 doesn´t seem to have it included. I´ll have a look at highend too.

by what you just mentioned you may want to try useing clusters. (animation>deform> create cluster) A cluster has its own transforms rotations values so you can move the vertex by moving its cluster. giving you that level of control.

clusters also work on SubDivs and Nurbs surfaces in the same way.