Dunno where I stand about this...

Overdriving stuff does add dimension to the dynamics when used correctly. It depends whether you understand modulation and you can work the sounds to create all the wonderful and weird harmonics.

Of course just maxing everything and making a standard rigs compression unit push all the audio into the mid-range is just bad. But then I personally hate compression, it's overused and a generally cheap and nasty effect, it's one of the many reasons I bought my own system.