This is moving away somewhat from the original thread a little.
I see no need to argue about either personal preferences in the way we work, or about "what makes the SSL sound?"
As a curveball - a Mackie 1604 has much better audio performance than an 8Bus - shorter signal path, less in the circuit etc. Consider this when we all get our knickers in a twist about the "SSL Sound". Different products sound different (shock), and there have been a LOT of SSL consoles out there. Do all of them sound the same? No.
Some people, DirtyHalo included, find that for them the "SSL Sound" can only be found in older products like the 4000, or the 1999 grey-face FX384. Great. Engineering is all about finding the sound you want. Some of us are even lucky enough to be able to afford it!!! (you lucky bugger DH
)
Others find our newer products like AWS900 and Duality to be dripping in "SSL Sound".
Products and sonic characters evolve and change over time, with different components and different designs.
Does an X-Rack have the "SuperAnalogue Sound"?
Well, sonically it is very similar to an AWS900 and a J or K. Let your own ears decide which of the many products available in the market have the "right" sound for you...
The bottom line is "does using a summing device make my mixes sound better to me and/or my customers?"