i haven't posted anything about this model in a while, but it's not dead.
i was trying to model in the normal fashion, but i prefer working with subsurf modelling, so i converted the model to quads and put some subsurf on it. i find it easier to see what i'm doing this way and when i'm happy with the result i can then apply the subsurf and start poly reducing to making a game model. it's not the quickest way of working, but i like it.
there are a couple of advantages to this approach if i want to use this model in other games. if i want a higher poly version for a newer game i don't have to start again, i just grab the subsurf model and do less poly reduction on it. i can also use the subsurf model to generate a normal map.
here's a recent shot. i'm still working on the face.