Dave-
Great list!!
I may add - my favorite “broad strokes” channel strip is Sunglow by a wide margin… with the next most often being Latte Tilt (filters module).
FWIW I don’t think it’s so much because these “sound” “better” than some of what you listed… it’s more that I’m able to really address what needs to change to make something “fit” well.
Sunglow has a very nice “down to earth” quality, fights “digititis” well, and (probably its best quality) it can boost lower mids in a very pleasing and rarely “bloated” way.
I often use this early in a mix, and then Sand (or sometimes Green) to be more surgical.
Latte Tilt is amazing at helping something where you think “ah, this is too bright/dark” - and keeps you away from 4 bands of adjustment when 1 can do the trick elegantly.
Keeping this on the Purple topic… I’m probably using Sunglow and Purple the most right now of any AA tools.
Things that are too forward and strident get shaped w Sunglow
Busses are getting Purple
Purple HLF — helps treat prior to Sunglow
Again, nothing broken in that list for sure… but if we are talking about “best friends” — these three suites will cover 99% of anything I could think you’d want to fix w EQ — and importantly with very little chance of “breaking” anything.
IMO/ymmv
