(...) I have an old plugin I wrote to inline a model down to parts only (i.e. no submodels). It's not compatible now but I can dust it off and release again if you'd like. (15 years ago, 31-Dec-09, to lugnet.cad)
(...) Yes, that would be helpful. I had the need recently and solved it with MLCad (File -> export [ldraw normal] -> range=last step in main model). But it is error prone and not very convenient. Philo (15 years ago, 31-Dec-09, to lugnet.cad)