Depending on what you were doing (ie still model/animation) you could forgo the DM and use bump if anything at all? as you would only need the DM on the parts you can see?.same same with the text Rick? working out which pieces that are seen might be a brain buster though LOL especially if it is a disintergrating/reintergrate model...might need a coffee or 3 with that.
cheers bullet
bullet1968
"A Darkness at Sethanon", a book I aspire to model some of the charcters and scenes