Tricky one that, isn't it? lol Almost like you feel a strange guilt of some sort of deranged 'properness' that compells you to start carving out the 250 and whatnotelse.......when the shit is actually rockin as is........
I think other than listening in context (obvious one) rather than carving into separates at will, the only real thing that cures this is time. Or so it seemed to me. And the fact that I no longer deal with the paying client dynamic either most definitely has something to do with it, as I do no longer need justify anything to anyone. Bit trickier that, if you know the client is on the 'expensive production' chase and there you are, wondering if you should leave the drums uncarved....lol But that's just the problem these days I think! Clients want (or think they want...) 'expensive' sounding. In the end everyone really only wants 'good' sounding, but the clients are in the fear chase of 'is this proper enough' as well as you, so you kick each other until that shit is carved to death and clean and shiny like a new car. And dead as one, too. Boy do I love not having to participate in that lark anymore.......
On that topic, best thing I ever learned was when a very big name singer asked in a very bad mood for 'more mids' in his vocal/cans when starting a vocal session. I thought, no way, there's too much already, carved a little out and asked "How's that?". He goes "Great! Let's go!".........they may ask for blue, green, warm, bold, whatever....they mean 'good'. And if good is with the drums left alone, dig it and swing to it