TeraByte Unlimited imaging apps now support metadata backups and restores...

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/upgradehist-image-for-windows.htm

Metadata backups are fast. I made a metadata differential image based on a 103 GB full image (data partition). The backup took 14 seconds. A non metadata differential backup took 77 times longer (18 minutes).

Metadata restores are fast. I restored the above metadata differential image. The metadata restore took 16 seconds. A non metadata restore took 68 times longer (18 minutes).