Getting cool drums sounds is the most fun part of recording IMO...
1) Probably for beginners, but not necessarily... somtimes its a time issue.
2) Yes
3) No, but it is boring.
4) Some players hit the kick the same every time, some not. For a dense rock mix, no kick dynamics is OK, for jazz, not.
I think the first Rage album is far and away the best, from a production/sonics standpoint...
There are no rules... do what you gotta do to get the job done, even if its boring.
