i was that confused with everything you said on this thread, i went out and brought maya 6 complete referance guide, (for £35 from all good book stores! ), and i skipped all the way the rigging section, and i am still none the wiser and £35 lighter , long nights reading ahead,

but on a better note (lahhh) what a fantastic book i recomend to anyone who's in the dark, it has a cool cd with rigged "bi-peds" (that also work with Maya 5 too) (can't afford upgrade yet - wife still frowning from maya 5)