I'll add another dimension to the whole discussion, maybe these issues are why engineers that mix and master, just do the best they can, get paid and go to bed happy for a good days pay.
If anyone wants to read a tutorial on sound mixing, there's a great one at:
http://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=29283
I've only gotten 3 pages in but what an eye opener. Very technical but worth the read.
Wyndham