@ minilogo (and qdin) - yes, that's true. As I said before 'ideally' under 3000. In theory I could merge all sorts of things and get it running. It would probably make about 1/3 of the objects on the map over the ideal limit. Would that start crashing the map? Who knows. Now, unless there's an easy way to merge things via an odf where it tricks the game into thinking multiple objects are one, the amount of time it would take to export a group of objects from ZE, import the obj's to XSI, clean them up, re-texture, and re-export is far more time than I'm willing to put into converting the map. It's time enough making sure it's not crashing, modes are working, objects aren't floating, etc. I may as well re-make the whole thing.

Like I say, maybe there's a quick way of tricking the game I don't know about. If so, feel free to enlighten me.
When I brought the map into ZE originally it was unfinished, and already the size of the entire default terrain. Tunnels leading to nowhere, objects scattered around the perimeter unarranged, etc. Eddie told me he had never finished it. It's gorgeous as is, and there's a few parts that would've been nice to keep, but even at this size there's large 'walk times' on foot (the time it takes to walk to the next cp or enemy). You don't notice it much though because it's so rich with eye candy. But then again I kept the part that looked most finished and refined.
Anyway I'm starting to ramble.