[carme]

Do you constantly use edge loops to straighten out a part of the mesh or is there a better way of doing that?

I hate how the edge loops wrap around the entire thing you are building instead of just the area you are trying to straighten. Is there another way? Can I simply use split polygon tool in that one area and have that edge NOT connect? Will that mess up something later (like texturing)?

Please advise/...... too many edges crease an area you don't want while you are trying to straighten another area. What to do better?

The soft and harden edges method is not quite getting the look I want and edge loop seems appropriate, but if someone has better method please advise. Thanks