In the import settings there is a specific option to select for importing the right normal values.
Generally you set this once, and you even forget that its an option. Which is why i cant remeber what you should set it to…
Your flow seems pretty much spot on.
The big issues are:
Do not ever allow the engine to triangulate for you.
Do not allow the engine to “generate lightmap UV” for you.
Matter of fact, for a good pipeline the standard behaviour is the engine doesnt have to do anything for you.
(And the only thing you can’t control should be computing distance fields. Which I really wish i could just provide so I’m not at the mercy of the engine’s stupidity)…