Hi Swizl
Actually it's nothing else: Modo can render to a spherical map (see camera options, instead of perspective). You probably will have to take a deeper look, especially if you will have some reflections that are clearly seen or a visible part of the background (the hdri should probably be at least 6 times as big as the end resolution of your picture in that case). If you could work with dof instead a much smaller hdri would suffice. No problem you wouldn't have with your method.
Your method should also work, btw. Probably you forgot something (like putting a luminous intensity in the material. luminous color alone isn't enough), or your camera is somehow wrong positioned or something with the clipping.
I personally think the spherical map hdri is the cleaner solution. For modeling, you can go very low poly, no need for edge beveling and stuff (just use rounded edge width). Maybe another time you will want more detail and model it out (it's quiet easy. Especially with the spherical map hdri. You just create a good room, could even texture a good floor, have a ceiling with the typical office lights, put some furniture in it and so on. Then just position the camera in the center (i. e. there where you will put your product models) and test it out. Even if you don't get it quiet right, it probably would be enough and whatever time you use you get back in shorter render times (by the way. area lights make for very slow renders. You could use mesh lights instead which should be a bit faster).
What I would recommend, too, is to create more backgrounds than just one, so you'll have a bit of diversity in the product photos.
Good luck