is it possible to save the poly count display, that one of the 4 windows is explorer blah blah, so that always if i open xsi the settings are there?

Yes, you can create a new Event that will load whatever settings you want on startup or new scene or whatever. I use one that changes the Camera view in viewport B to a User view automatically everytime I start XSI or a new scene but you can do many other things as well, you just need to find the right code to place into the event script.

http://community.softimage.com/showthread.php?t=436

thx