Left field it is.
Since it's your thread I'll just go with your topic change flow Amiel.
If you read many of my posts you'll realize I'm just not a huge summing buss guy. I've only seriously investigated a couple of them and do find the Folcrom paired with different preamps can be a different sound that goes well with an easy DAW workflow etc. Recall is important to many these days (me too).
The Phoenix Nicerizer 16 I've spent time with, and found it to be a very nice sound indeed. I'm convinced a lot of that sweetness is on the output transformers being pushed a bit, but nonetheless it added a dimensional difference to the sound depending on how I pushed it.
I've also re-recorded mixes back into Nuendo and heard small differences that I like as well. I think there is a level of energy / punch that slightly drops when doing an internal bounce in Nuendo, but that it sounds pretty damn good played back in real time. It's not real noticeable, but I do miss a little something anyhow when just doing internal bounces.
There's something nice about having everything sounding a bit more "electric" during mixdown, not sure if a summing buss is the answer but...running a mix through something like a Pacifica or ADL600 or a great stereo compressor like the Roll Super Stereo or Drawmer 1968 can be a thing of beauty.
Keep in mind all of this stuff may require better converters (depending on what you have) or at least MORE converters if you go with a buss system.
So, that's my story. I don't push summing boxes but realize at the same time they do change the sound. If you're really looking for a sweetened sound and like the idea of getting outside of the box, consider trying it through some of your 2 channel equipment in real time and see if you dig that.
War