Joe:
Thanks for the advice.
I never plan on doing things 'correctly' here. I have a set standard Ive been told to follow so I do, and for the most part it works... it works damn well.
Ive never seen transparency issues due to saving as PS or Eps and never seen an issue arise from opening pdfs in Illy and editing / saving as Eps.
Not in the last year anyhow.
You are 110% correct that they will come down directly on me and for the most part I am viewed as the no-nothing youngster
(which in most cases is true, i dont have that chip on my shoulder anymore :P I have been humbled in the past few months in regards to Prepress..Ive come to realize i know Jack - Shit.)
Im trying not to be impatient, but its hard.
What would you suggest as a general time to stick around and learn? Ill be going onto year 2 here come March 2008. I figured 3 years would be a start and give me some knowledge
I just wish they would make some attempt to understand the things spoken about in these forums.

and discuss why these methods would or would not work for us.