I use dual 27" 4k LGs - have used against both the Mac Pro and MacBooks with no issues whatsoever. Well, one thing -- I do have a dead pixel on one of the displays.
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LG Announces Upgraded Set of Monitors With Full Thunderbolt 3 Compatibility
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The non-integer scaling modes are more taxing on the GPU and is less sharp. Yes it can work, but. It’s not optimal at all
Optimal compared to what? If the Apple/LG 5k thunderbolt display doesn't fit your needs (maybe you want a larger/smaller screen than 27", a different finish, a different gamut, or sometimes want to connect non-TB3 computers, or you're on a budget) then nothing is going to be optimal so you're looking for a compromise.
A 4k display in scaled mode may not be "optimal" but on a recent Mac with discrete GPU it is a very good compromise: 1440p scaled on a 4k may not be quite up to true 5k, but is still much better than a native 1440p display and in a completely different league from non-integer "upscaling" you might see elsewhere. The current MBPs now use non-integer scaled modes by default on their internal screens.
...and you still have the option of pixel-doubled "looks like 1080p" or native 3840x2160 if you need "optimal" for particular tasks.
I agree - I've been using scaled modes on my LG 31.5" 4k for several years and they look phenomenal honestly.
Unless doing some comparison directly to a Retina 5k right next to it, I think most anyone would be hard pressed to find meaningful differences.
I actually love scaled modes. I use effectively larger (less resolution) modes for comfort most of the time, but dial it to a scaled very large resolution for using things like FCPX to get lots of interface on screen to work with. It's very nice to have that flexibility and especially on a larger physical canvas (almost 32" of real size) vs the largest iMacs.
On that note - I'm surprised there isn't a 32" (or larger) iMac Pro option. It's really hard to go back to less physical screen real estate once you get used to it.
Wait for the much-awaited "modular" Mac Pro, and hope that Apple remember that one market for modular computers is people who want to choose their own displays and don't necessarily want an 18-core processor and insane GPU.
Just set out to search for available TB3 monitors.. The 34WK95U-W still looks like the best available option, but.. it's still not released! Announced in 2017, LG has pushed back on the releases time and time again. So annoying 
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If you need a 5K screen, go with a used Dell 5K and a Sonnet TB3 to Dual-DisplayPort Adapter (make sure you get the Mac version).Just set out to search for available TB3 monitors.. The 34WK95U-W still looks like the best available option, but.. it's still not released! Announced in 2017, LG has pushed back on the releases time and time again. So annoying
Even with their quirks, I vastly prefer my Dells to the LG 5K that I bought. Plug a sleeping laptop into the LG5K, and it wakes up. Since there's no power button on the LG, you have to sign in and put the laptop to sleep to get the screen to turn off. SO ANNOYING! What if I just want the laptop to back itself up with the screen off? Nope! Not an option.
Plus the case and finish of the Dells matches an iMac far better than the cheap plastic housing of the LG5K.
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Yea I am surprised that the 5k monitors have not grown over time. I have not used the LG ultrafine line but I hear it is pretty good. I for one am looking forward to the new LG TB3 ultrawide. I have been using ultrawide's now for a few years and it is hard to move away from it, even for a sharper image of an ultrafine.
Heh. My eyes have gotten used to the clarity of 5K screens. Using lower resolutions for anything but gaming strains them.