whats the reccomended pipeline

#1 ..reduce or rebuild the topology of the Daz models and use collada or DTS.
DTS exporting from max has a poly face limit(per element/mesh) in the range of 9-10k, so you may want to use collada. if you are just starting out in T3D, go with Collada, it was made to be easy for simple objects and for new guys.

Sooner or later you'll need to learn the DTS pipeline to make your life easier, your game smaller and faster, and to utilize all of the functionality the model system has to offer.

// For collada
get the Opencollada exporter


// For DTS
DTS exporting is a bit more complicated but once you learn it, it is still more powerful than the collada pipe..especially if you are using a pre-T3D engine.

here is a bunch of info and file packages;
Don't grab any other exporter from that page, I have linked one below for you. If you need specified normals, use the pro exporter from that page
torque.abigholeintheweb.com/public_system/artists/exporter_related/max/

..and here is what you would need for exporting from 2010:
Exporter files package

#2 where do I place the dle file for 2010?

#3 maxInstall/stdPlugs

www.torquepowered.com/documentation/artist