diff --git a/panda/src/char/character.cxx b/panda/src/char/character.cxx
index 3515bef04a..3376d4c7d2 100644
--- a/panda/src/char/character.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/char/character.cxx
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ r_copy_char(PandaNode *dest, const PandaNode *source,
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 PT(Geom) Character::
 copy_geom(const Geom *source, const Character *from) {
-  if (source->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+  if (source->is_qpgeom()) {
     CPT(qpGeom) qpsource = DCAST(qpGeom, source);
     CPT(qpGeomVertexFormat) format = qpsource->get_vertex_data()->get_format();
     if (format->get_animation().get_animation_type() == qpGeom::AT_none) {
diff --git a/panda/src/collide/collisionTraverser.cxx b/panda/src/collide/collisionTraverser.cxx
index 38eb3eee44..9ccbd339a1 100644
--- a/panda/src/collide/collisionTraverser.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/collide/collisionTraverser.cxx
@@ -741,7 +741,7 @@ compare_collider_to_geom(CollisionEntry &entry, const Geom *geom,
     ci = _colliders.find(entry.get_from_node_path());
     nassertv(ci != _colliders.end());
 
-    if (geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+    if (geom->is_qpgeom()) {
       const qpGeom *qpgeom = DCAST(qpGeom, geom);
       if (qpgeom->get_primitive_type() == qpGeom::PT_polygons) {
         const qpGeomVertexData *data =qpgeom->get_vertex_data();
diff --git a/panda/src/distort/projectionScreen.cxx b/panda/src/distort/projectionScreen.cxx
index be46ce9e5d..b375a7d258 100644
--- a/panda/src/distort/projectionScreen.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/distort/projectionScreen.cxx
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ recompute_geom(Geom *geom, const LMatrix4f &rel_mat) {
 
   const LMatrix3f &to_uv = _invert_uvs ? lens_to_uv_inverted : lens_to_uv;
 
-  if (geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+  if (geom->is_qpgeom()) {
     qpGeom *qpgeom = DCAST(qpGeom, geom);
     // Iterate through all the vertices in the Geom.
 
@@ -812,7 +812,7 @@ make_mesh_geom_node(const WorkingNodePath &np, const NodePath &camera,
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 PT(Geom) ProjectionScreen::
 make_mesh_geom(const Geom *geom, Lens *lens, LMatrix4f &rel_mat) {
-  if (geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+  if (geom->is_qpgeom()) {
     PT(qpGeom) new_geom = new qpGeom(*DCAST(qpGeom, geom));
 
     qpGeomVertexRewriter vertex(new_geom->modify_vertex_data(), 
diff --git a/panda/src/egg2pg/config_egg2pg.cxx b/panda/src/egg2pg/config_egg2pg.cxx
index 5f96edc02d..1fd314035c 100644
--- a/panda/src/egg2pg/config_egg2pg.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/egg2pg/config_egg2pg.cxx
@@ -62,6 +62,14 @@ ConfigVariableDouble egg_flatten_radius
           "the user to specify what should be considered \"small\".  Set "
           "it to 0.0 to disable this feature."));
 
+ConfigVariableBool egg_unify
+("egg-unify", true,
+ PRC_DESC("When this is true, then in addition to flattening the scene graph "
+          "nodes, the egg loader will also as many Geoms as possible within "
+          "a given node into a single Geom.  This has theoretical performance "
+          "benefits, especially on higher-end graphics cards, but it also "
+          "slightly slows down egg loading."));
+
 ConfigVariableBool egg_combine_geoms
 ("egg-combine-geoms", false,
  PRC_DESC("Set this true to combine sibling GeomNodes into a single GeomNode, "
diff --git a/panda/src/egg2pg/config_egg2pg.h b/panda/src/egg2pg/config_egg2pg.h
index bb5e9ecae4..64739136a5 100644
--- a/panda/src/egg2pg/config_egg2pg.h
+++ b/panda/src/egg2pg/config_egg2pg.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ extern EXPCL_PANDAEGG ConfigVariableBool egg_ignore_filters;
 extern EXPCL_PANDAEGG ConfigVariableBool egg_ignore_clamp;
 extern EXPCL_PANDAEGG ConfigVariableBool egg_ignore_decals;
 extern EXPCL_PANDAEGG ConfigVariableBool egg_flatten;
+extern EXPCL_PANDAEGG ConfigVariableBool egg_unify;
 extern EXPCL_PANDAEGG ConfigVariableDouble egg_flatten_radius;
 extern EXPCL_PANDAEGG ConfigVariableBool egg_combine_geoms;
 extern EXPCL_PANDAEGG ConfigVariableBool egg_show_collision_solids;
diff --git a/panda/src/egg2pg/load_egg_file.cxx b/panda/src/egg2pg/load_egg_file.cxx
index 20b9e4b581..7754feb36c 100644
--- a/panda/src/egg2pg/load_egg_file.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/egg2pg/load_egg_file.cxx
@@ -48,9 +48,14 @@ load_from_loader(EggLoader &loader) {
     }
 
     int num_reduced = gr.flatten(loader._root, combine_siblings_bits);
-    //    gr.collect_vertex_data(loader._root);
-    //    gr.unify(loader._root);
     egg2pg_cat.info() << "Flattened " << num_reduced << " nodes.\n";
+    if (egg_unify) {
+      gr.collect_vertex_data(loader._root);
+      gr.unify(loader._root);
+      if (egg2pg_cat.is_debug()) {
+        egg2pg_cat.debug() << "Unified.\n";
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   return loader._root;
diff --git a/panda/src/express/dcast.T b/panda/src/express/dcast.T
index 80693fc68d..599287d862 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/dcast.T
+++ b/panda/src/express/dcast.T
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ _dcast_get_typehandle(WantType *) {
 template<class WantType>
 INLINE WantType *
 _dcast(WantType *, TypedObject *ptr) {
-#ifndef NDEBUG
+#ifdef DO_DCAST
   TypeHandle want_handle = _dcast_get_typehandle((WantType *)0);
   if (!_dcast_verify(want_handle, sizeof(WantType), ptr)) {
     return (WantType *)NULL;
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ _dcast(WantType *, TypedObject *ptr) {
 template<class WantType>
 INLINE const WantType *
 _dcast(WantType *, const TypedObject *ptr) {
-#ifndef NDEBUG
+#ifdef DO_DCAST
   TypeHandle want_handle = _dcast_get_typehandle((WantType *)0);
   if (!_dcast_verify(want_handle, sizeof(WantType), ptr)) {
     return (const WantType *)NULL;
diff --git a/panda/src/express/dcast.cxx b/panda/src/express/dcast.cxx
index 1a609de337..559dbd068f 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/dcast.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/express/dcast.cxx
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 #endif
 
 
-#ifndef NDEBUG
+#ifdef DO_DCAST
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: _dcast_verify
 //  Description: This function performs the actual check that the
@@ -67,5 +67,6 @@ _dcast_verify(TypeHandle want_handle, size_t want_size,
 
   return true;
 }
-#endif  // NDEBUG
+#endif  // DO_DCAST
+
 
diff --git a/panda/src/express/dcast.h b/panda/src/express/dcast.h
index 4eef5bb90c..acbbd1d17d 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/dcast.h
+++ b/panda/src/express/dcast.h
@@ -68,12 +68,12 @@ INLINE WantType *_dcast_ref(WantType *&, TypedObject *ptr);
 template<class WantType>
 INLINE const WantType *_dcast_ref(WantType *&, const TypedObject *ptr);
 
-#ifndef NDEBUG
+#ifdef DO_DCAST
 // _dcast_verify performs the actual verification.
 EXPCL_PANDAEXPRESS bool
 _dcast_verify(TypeHandle want_handle, size_t want_size, 
               const TypedObject *ptr);
-#endif  // NDEBUG
+#endif  // DO_DCAST
 
 #define DCAST_INTO_V(to_pointer, from_pointer) \
   { \
diff --git a/panda/src/glstuff/glGraphicsStateGuardian_src.cxx b/panda/src/glstuff/glGraphicsStateGuardian_src.cxx
index c32ea7f856..1b66b0a064 100644
--- a/panda/src/glstuff/glGraphicsStateGuardian_src.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/glstuff/glGraphicsStateGuardian_src.cxx
@@ -2846,7 +2846,7 @@ GeomContext *CLP(GraphicsStateGuardian)::
 prepare_geom(Geom *geom) {
   // Temporary test until the experimental Geom rewrite becomes the
   // actual Geom implementation.
-  if (geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+  if (geom->is_qpgeom()) {
     CLP(GeomContext) *ggc = new CLP(GeomContext)(geom);
     return ggc;
 
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/geom.cxx b/panda/src/gobj/geom.cxx
index ded68ae0e6..e5c9d52c89 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/geom.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/geom.cxx
@@ -567,6 +567,18 @@ is_dynamic() const {
   return (_vindex != (ushort*)0L);
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: Geom::is_qpgeom
+//       Access: Published, Virtual
+//  Description: Returns true if this is a new-style qpGeom class,
+//               false otherwise.  Temporary until the experimental
+//               Geom rewrite becomes the actual Geom implementation.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+bool Geom::
+is_qpgeom() const {
+  return false;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: Geom::prepare
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/geom.h b/panda/src/gobj/geom.h
index a972e674f1..ee1ac63f86 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/geom.h
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/geom.h
@@ -171,6 +171,9 @@ public:
 PUBLISHED:
   virtual bool is_dynamic() const;
 
+  // Temporary.
+  virtual bool is_qpgeom() const;
+
   INLINE GeomBindType get_binding(int attr) const;
   INLINE bool has_any_texcoords() const;
   INLINE bool has_texcoords(const InternalName *name) const;
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/qpgeom.cxx b/panda/src/gobj/qpgeom.cxx
index ed98d28273..ceabfc3a1a 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/qpgeom.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/qpgeom.cxx
@@ -105,6 +105,18 @@ make_copy() const {
   return new qpGeom(*this);
 }
 
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+//     Function: qpGeom::is_qpgeom
+//       Access: Published, Virtual
+//  Description: Returns true if this is a new-style qpGeom class,
+//               false otherwise.  Temporary until the experimental
+//               Geom rewrite becomes the actual Geom implementation.
+////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
+bool qpGeom::
+is_qpgeom() const {
+  return true;
+}
+
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 //     Function: qpGeom::set_usage_hint
 //       Access: Published
diff --git a/panda/src/gobj/qpgeom.h b/panda/src/gobj/qpgeom.h
index e8b9907a2f..62f7d27ef3 100644
--- a/panda/src/gobj/qpgeom.h
+++ b/panda/src/gobj/qpgeom.h
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ PUBLISHED:
 
   // Temporary.
   virtual Geom *make_copy() const;
+  virtual bool is_qpgeom() const;
 
   INLINE PrimitiveType get_primitive_type() const;
   INLINE ShadeModel get_shade_model() const;
diff --git a/panda/src/grutil/multitexReducer.cxx b/panda/src/grutil/multitexReducer.cxx
index f8e46c2ec6..27366be567 100644
--- a/panda/src/grutil/multitexReducer.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/grutil/multitexReducer.cxx
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ transfer_geom(GeomNode *geom_node, const InternalName *texcoord_name,
     const GeomInfo &geom_info = (*gi);
     const Geom *orig_geom = geom_info._geom_node->get_geom(geom_info._index);
 
-    if (orig_geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+    if (orig_geom->is_qpgeom()) {
       PT(qpGeom) geom = new qpGeom(*DCAST(qpGeom, orig_geom));
       PT(qpGeomVertexData) vdata = geom->modify_vertex_data();
       vdata->set_usage_hint(qpGeom::UH_stream);
diff --git a/panda/src/particlesystem/spriteParticleRenderer.cxx b/panda/src/particlesystem/spriteParticleRenderer.cxx
index a328e07441..4aba06fd74 100644
--- a/panda/src/particlesystem/spriteParticleRenderer.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/particlesystem/spriteParticleRenderer.cxx
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ set_from_node(const NodePath &node_path, bool size_from_texels) {
   TexCoordf min_uv, max_uv;
   Vertexf min_xyz, max_xyz;
 
-  if (geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+  if (geom->is_qpgeom()) {
     const qpGeom *qpgeom = DCAST(qpGeom, geom);
     qpGeomVertexReader texcoord(qpgeom->get_vertex_data());
     qpGeomVertexReader vertex(qpgeom->get_vertex_data());
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/cullableObject.cxx b/panda/src/pgraph/cullableObject.cxx
index 13ca1e9a9e..2325c5fd3a 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/cullableObject.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/cullableObject.cxx
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ munge_geom(GraphicsStateGuardianBase *gsg,
   if (_geom != (Geom *)NULL) {
     // Temporary test and dcast until the experimental Geom rewrite
     // becomes the actual Geom rewrite.
-    if (_geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+    if (_geom->is_qpgeom()) {
       _munger = munger;
       CPT(qpGeom) qpgeom = DCAST(qpGeom, _geom);
       _munged_data = qpgeom->get_vertex_data();
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/geomNode.cxx b/panda/src/pgraph/geomNode.cxx
index 729ec35fff..e64924c52f 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/geomNode.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/geomNode.cxx
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ calc_tight_bounds(LPoint3f &min_point, LPoint3f &max_point, bool &found_any,
     const Geom *geom = get_geom(i);
     
     // Temporary test until the experimental Geom rewrite is final.
-    if (geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+    if (geom->is_qpgeom()) {
       const qpGeom *qpgeom = DCAST(qpGeom, geom);
       qpgeom->calc_tight_bounds(min_point, max_point, found_any,
                                 qpgeom->get_vertex_data()->animate_vertices(),
@@ -481,11 +481,11 @@ unify() {
     const GeomEntry &entry = (*gi);
     
     bool unified = false;
-    if (entry._geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+    if (entry._geom->is_qpgeom()) {
       Geoms::iterator gj;
       for (gj = new_geoms.begin(); gj != new_geoms.end() && !unified; ++gj) {
         GeomEntry &new_entry = (*gj);
-        if (new_entry._geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+        if (new_entry._geom->is_qpgeom()) {
           if (entry._state == new_entry._state) {
             // Both states match, so try to combine the primitives.
             if (DCAST(qpGeom, new_entry._geom)->copy_primitives_from
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ unify() {
   // Finally, go back through and unify the resulting geom(s).
   for (gi = cdata->_geoms.begin(); gi != cdata->_geoms.end(); ++gi) {
     const GeomEntry &entry = (*gi);
-    if (entry._geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+    if (entry._geom->is_qpgeom()) {
       DCAST(qpGeom, entry._geom)->unify_in_place();
     }
   }
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/geomTransformer.cxx b/panda/src/pgraph/geomTransformer.cxx
index ae93830838..8719d1e0cc 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/geomTransformer.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/geomTransformer.cxx
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ transform_vertices(Geom *geom, const LMatrix4f &mat) {
 
   nassertr(geom != (Geom *)NULL, false);
 
-  if (geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+  if (geom->is_qpgeom()) {
     qpGeom *qpgeom = DCAST(qpGeom, geom);
 
     qpSourceVertices sv;
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ transform_texcoords(Geom *geom, const InternalName *from_name,
   bool transformed = false;
 
   nassertr(geom != (Geom *)NULL, false);
-  if (geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+  if (geom->is_qpgeom()) {
     qpGeom *qpgeom = DCAST(qpGeom, geom);
 
     qpSourceTexCoords st;
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ bool GeomTransformer::
 set_color(Geom *geom, const Colorf &color) {
   bool transformed = false;
 
-  if (geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+  if (geom->is_qpgeom()) {
     qpGeom *qpgeom = DCAST(qpGeom, geom);
 
     qpSourceColors sc;
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ transform_colors(Geom *geom, const LVecBase4f &scale) {
 
   nassertr(geom != (Geom *)NULL, false);
 
-  if (geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+  if (geom->is_qpgeom()) {
     qpGeom *qpgeom = DCAST(qpGeom, geom);
 
     qpSourceColors sc;
@@ -763,7 +763,7 @@ collect_vertex_data(GeomNode *node, int collect_bits) {
   GeomNode::Geoms::iterator gi;
   for (gi = cdata->_geoms.begin(); gi != cdata->_geoms.end(); ++gi) {
     GeomNode::GeomEntry &entry = (*gi);
-    if (entry._geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+    if (entry._geom->is_qpgeom()) {
       PT(qpGeom) new_geom = DCAST(qpGeom, entry._geom->make_copy());
       entry._geom = new_geom;
 
diff --git a/panda/src/pgraph/sceneGraphReducer.cxx b/panda/src/pgraph/sceneGraphReducer.cxx
index f8bb863cdd..09171e0c9d 100644
--- a/panda/src/pgraph/sceneGraphReducer.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/pgraph/sceneGraphReducer.cxx
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ r_make_nonindexed(PandaNode *node, int nonindexed_bits) {
     GeomNode *geom_node = DCAST(GeomNode, node);
     int num_geoms = geom_node->get_num_geoms();
     for (int i = 0; i < num_geoms; ++i) {
-      if (geom_node->get_geom(i)->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+      if (geom_node->get_geom(i)->is_qpgeom()) {
         const qpGeom *geom = DCAST(qpGeom, geom_node->get_geom(i));
 
         // Check whether the geom is animated or dynamic, and skip it
diff --git a/panda/src/text/staticTextFont.cxx b/panda/src/text/staticTextFont.cxx
index 27cfc41aeb..8d5017420c 100644
--- a/panda/src/text/staticTextFont.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/text/staticTextFont.cxx
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ find_character_gsets(PandaNode *root, CPT(Geom) &ch,
 
     for (int i = 0; i < geode->get_num_geoms(); i++) {
       const Geom *geom = geode->get_geom(i);
-      if (geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+      if (geom->is_qpgeom()) {
         CPT(qpGeom) qpgeom = DCAST(qpGeom, geom);
 
         bool found_points = false;
diff --git a/panda/src/text/textGlyph.I b/panda/src/text/textGlyph.I
index 14c0ecae69..13563c55e5 100644
--- a/panda/src/text/textGlyph.I
+++ b/panda/src/text/textGlyph.I
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ get_geom(qpGeom::UsageHint usage_hint) const {
   // it is also critical for the DynamicTextGlyph, which depends on
   // this behavior to properly count references to this glyph.
   PT(Geom) new_geom = _geom->make_copy();
-  if (new_geom->is_of_type(qpGeom::get_class_type())) {
+  if (new_geom->is_qpgeom()) {
     qpGeom *qpgeom = DCAST(qpGeom, new_geom);
     qpgeom->set_usage_hint(usage_hint);
     if (qpgeom->get_vertex_data()->get_usage_hint() != usage_hint) {