"As for the overall sound of your CD, bear in mind most people will listen in the car more than anywhere else, so make sure you do, too!"

It's funny, I hear that said a lot, but I've never actually read any statistics/numbers to corroborate it. Not being a car-owner, and not knowing many car-owners, I always wonder if it is really true.

I think if you're a musician who is making every penny count, you are better off spending money you would have spent on mastering on marketing and publicity. Remember - sending out review copies of an album costs money. Even in this MP3-centered day and age, a folk music magazine or festival organizer is still more likely to review or listen to your album if they receive a CD on their desk, rather than an easily ignorable link to a website. You need to reserve a decent wedge of money for promotion, otherwise that great-sounding album is worthless.