Get this...
Why bother having paths at all...
When you publish, all the files get put into one folder...
Try doing that, then save your wed/wmb and wmp and wdl or
.c... whatever into the new compiled/published folder ...
Then you have a clean folder with only the required files...
Then review your file sizes and work to optimize by reducing file sizes such as retexture using .dds files...
This procedure works wonders...
Then script out those damb path statements and make sure you back-up... Pays to play it safe...
// (But, there is something to be said for keeping things tidy...)
// None-the-less, it's a wonderful way to work at optimizing...