Hi @archist97,
Do you mean real-time views of the model in plan and section? Unfortunately, the resulting pdf doesn’t keep the sub-layers right now.
The only way to export the drawings to AutoCAD keeping the layers and sublayers is as you describe in method 1, by creating the 2D drawings on model space with the vaPlanView and vaSectionView.
In VisualARQ 3 we have plans to export layouts to dwg. This way you will be able to export real-time views to dwg directly. We opened a discussion about the best way to implement it, if you want to revise it or participate: VisualARQ 3 Feature Feedback: Export to AutoCAD DWG