I am trying to rig the mice I am making for the competition and have a query- in order to rig the figure do the parts have to be joined together (as in combined in polys or attached in subds) or can they simply be grouped? Sure there is a simple answer but I cannot find it.

Secondly, I rigged a subd character previously but in the references I have they say make a low poly proxy and bind it to the subd surface. I am not animating, just posing, is it ok just to stick to subds and not bother with the proxy? I know it is harder to paint weights that way but as I'm not planning on them moving I just want to check whether it is vital.