this is a good discussion, but let's keep it to that......a discussion.
i refrained from comment as this topic was WRECKING my IMP thread, so i split it out.
here goes.
i will speak strictly from my own personal experience here, and and a few details that i simply know to be true.
h2o2.....
first off, i'd certainly like to know (in a non threatening way), how long you have been recording? are you doing it full time, or as a hobby?
i legitimately want the answer to those questions. they will add much insight to the conversation.
secondly, i've been doing this for 12 years, 7.5 of which have been full time, day in day out......
speaking from my own personal experience i can assure you that EQ compression, FX, etc... get printed "to tape" on a daily basis. this would be by myself, and while i'm engineering for producers.
perhaps experience is a huge difference in your mindset vs. mine. perhaps not. but i will say that this practice happens widely, daily, and i'm a willing participant in doing it.
further more, i'm not interested in convincing anyone to change their work habits, especially if, A. what they are doing works for them, and B. if i have nothing personal involved.
i can tell you this, a number of the people discussing this with you are "vets", have significant credits (which only adds legitimacy) and years of experience doing this at a pro level.