Re: Digital mixer - pros and cons?
actually, in this circumstance i think ear mixes are far easier than wedges. i wouldn't love mixing that many ear mixes at FOH, but i would be VERY unhappy if i had to do that many wedge mixes. as soon as you introduce feedback issues, and volume war issues it's just a bear to try to deal with that from FOH.
as to your compression issues, i'm assuming the biggest issues are with vocals. i'm also assuming you don't have enough free channels available to just split them.
i totally agree that avioms are not a panacea. in fact, i've moved our personal mix system from an aviom rig to a system of 01v96s controlled via BCR2000 midi remotes so that i can have all the processing and channels i want and can customize different types of mixes for different needs. i run 15 stereo ear mixes all with individual on stage control. it was also cheaper, but that's another thread altogether.... 
