Keef,
Advantages Of Large Mixers:
First off high-end consoles are built like tanks(I.E.:meant to last at least the next 50 years, or so with good maintenance). Don't believe me. Then the next time you go into a major studio check out the machine room, & you'll see what I'm talking about(the SSL power supply/computer rack is huge, and robust). Then you've got to think about everything in the highend console signal wise being balanced in, & out just about everywhere. The dynamic range, & channel crosstalk of the highend consoles is usually much better than their smaller less expensive analogue counterparts. Last I checked I think the noise floor for the SSL 9000 K,orJ series was at least -95 below '0' ref to +4 for a single channel with max output above '0' being somewhere in the +26 to +28 region. Also think about the fact that most high-end consoles have full featured dynamics in each channel module, & the amout of buss(paths) is greater as well(like 64 for the SSL 9000 Series taking into account all multitrack, aux, & output busses)when compared to almost all digital consoles outside of say the Euphonix, Sony(Top Of The Line Model), Harrison, & now Digidesign(if you consider the ICON-Pro Tools HD systems packged together), & etc. . And the type of wiring in the in the highend consoles is of higher quality as well(usually oxygen free cabling). Then to top it off the automation systems are more powerful. You've got to remember that you can spec. an SSL console out to have 120 channels, & the automation system has to be powerful enough to automate everything in the console(recall, main, & monitor mutes, large fader moves, eq, & insert ins-outs, + 5.1 panning in the XL9000K). This is alot to offer the client. Also the center section is usually alot more comprehensive the larger the console. Personally I like working with lagre format analogue consoles. You feel powerful working behind a desk that has 80, or more channel strips at your command. What I don't like about large format consoles is having to leave the sweet spot in between monitors to make eq/dynamics adjustments, or taking the 30 minutes, or so to do recalls. Just my opinion(this has been so heavily discussed on the net before it's ridiculous but I feel strongly about this so hence the post).
'Rob G.'.
P.S.: Also you'll never have to worry about samplerate capability in the future with an analogue console because there's none to be worried about.