hard limiting

what is the best way to do this? im just now learning to do this with cool edit.
i normally make my final master mix then equalize it, then hard limit, then normalize to 98%.
that works well, but sometimes with certain mixes it makes the effects sound funny ..like reverb. are you supposed to do any hard limiting on seaparate tracks, then mix?
what are other ways to do it that would make it sound best?

[Bckwds Traveller]

I kinda think hard limiting is cheating [img]images/smilies/tongue.gif[/img] if all the tracks are mixed well you should not use hard limiting....

but that's my thinkin'..........

Ben [img]images/smilies/icon_cool.gif[/img]