I work on Mackies but I own a Ghost - Mark, I'd have to disagree with you, if you push the levels on a ghost it's rich and dirty, it also has upper and lower mid full parametric eq's, much nicer than the Mackie. In my opinion, of course. And it's only really at the Ghost level and up that things get good with soundcraft, whereas you seem to get a little more bang for your buck at the lower end of the price spectrum with Mackies.

Tough call though, I'd have to say go and listen to both and decide for youself. Then buy a Ghost :)