Well…
I already learned that some of my concerns are not really required.
Does not mean though I now think 3MF IS the way to go for me…
This user privacy thing and having my file paths included in the 3MF is NOT required as it can be solved for the creator without a need to include the path.
Even without that - this info is NOT required for an uploaded 3MF and should be removed by Bambu for privacy reasons.
In regards to the triangles and vertices I did some more digging.
Yes, it is indeed a standard the industry for once agree upon.
But it is standard like a rubber band - very flexible.
Obviously the complexity of the mesh depends on the input file.
So if you have an original with a million details the mesh will also be full of it and you are asked to reduces it so the slicing works better.
And this slicing is the main reason for existence of the 3MF format.
The mesh provides a DIRECT way to slice a model while other formats always require to either convert the file or to create a matching, layer based model from it.
All great then ?
Yes, if the goal is to provide a universal file format that works on god knows how many printers while making it hard to export a good enough 3D file from it.
NO, because it totally nullifies a lot of things modern CAD programs only included to make life easier.
Like TRUE circles and arcs, TRUE vectors and lots of other meaningful things.
Marlin supports all this by default but not Studio, not the 3MF file format.
Why does this matter?
Imagine you designed something with lots of curves surfaces, holes and such.
You also made sure you did this properly rather than merging parts and loosing geometry data.
THIS file is good as gold in terms of being able to make modifications, exporting it in other formats and such.
What you can export from a 3MF is rubbish…