may i ask you why you need to rework your models? which tools and which workflow do you use?

the MAX2mdl plugin converts the bones animations to vertex ones automatically, the blender exporter offers you both possibilities(bones and vertices), about lw i don't know, but c4d does the same with it Xport tool, and even as a last resort, you can export your animations as a series of 3ds models and merge em together im MED, works as well. there is no need to rework anything, it's just a matter of converting the (weighed) bones animations from you favourite tool into simple vertex animations without losing the look.
there is no way to do anything similar with shadows.

besides, there is no need to use such kind words as you do to describe your problem.