I havent tried out instalod yet but I want to add some background characters to a Maya animation with simple looping motions. 
Can I export the characters from character creator with the motions?  
Ive never done an animation with low poly crowds.   At most I've had maybe 3  or 4 characters in a scene imported from iclone. 
 If I add about 10 background characters how big of a difference can I expect in render time?  

I can't wait to try it out. Just wondering what I'm in for.