Hi Brian,
Thanks for the file and for using Dropbox.
I have the feeling this is a candidate for a ticket:
https://support.maxon.net/index.php
The “curvature” that you would achieve with it will not follow what the Phong shading does, which is the simulation of that curvature, while the edges move in- or outwards simultaneously. It will not look smooth. (See the file below, press play)
If you use a Sphere, set to Hexagon, and take the center of one of these “squares” while simulating an Extrude Inner with the Slide tool in curvature mode, it will work just fine.
The cylinder works fine with either horizontal edges or with vertical edges, but not together. I can’t decide if that is a limitation. That is up to the support. All I can see is that the new point that will define both (vertical and horizontal) changes can serve both. The problem is the result of it.
My impression is that even in this clear vertical/horizontal case, it might be easy to spot the problem. How about chaotic meshes with multiple “curvatures”? I put this in quotes, as edges are always straight, and only a few of them in a group can describe the underlying idea of something round, covered up by the Phong tag.
Long story short, I can see it as a compromise or a shortcoming, but I leave it to the developers to set a target here.
How would I do it? I select the Polygons in question and use an Extrude Inner. Then a circle as a guide, if …
Example
https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/share/TkdyN6tIg1rNQPYtimZxOHLVvaykPm0B19iGmiNRfwP
Cheers