Goggles:

Mmm. You dont have to model so hi rez....regardless of the models nature, whether to be animated or not....its just a bit of careful planning. The last thing you want to do is start deleting polys, edges or what ever...its such a waste and bad practice (unless it really does call for it)

Yeah tutorials can be hit or miss, though one organic tute and a hardsurface will see you right....just take it onboard and apply the techniques to whatever you are modelling, a character or otherwise.

With the amount of polys on the mesh....its pretty pointless hitting the preview smooth option...unless of course you like a slow render time....something else that will benefit from optimal meshes....render times will decrease as theys less to triangulate for the render engine.

Just be sensible with it. We have a topology thread here https://simplymaya.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24483 that may be useful to you

Jay