Some thoughts on things you didn't talk about but maybe should have.
-keep your listening level at the exact same volume once set.(otherwise you're just fooling yourself)
-maintain proper gain staging throughout.(otherwise your gain staging is gonna bite you in the ass going through those plugins etc)
-arrange the shit out of your music.(well,you know this is the one thing many can't bring themselves to do)
-use volume rides to get you there.(before eq/comp or other fixes,just try volume rides,it's what the old farts know to do)
-fix the sounds at the source first before turning to eq/comp/whatever.
-don't turn down the bass sissy,make sure it's in PHASE!(and mono in the very low end)
-brighten up those dull mixes ,especially with them sample libs (live players almost always have way more vibe/life to them)
-back off that verb on those English sample libraries from you know where.
-if you really need a loud master,make it that way at the very end.Turn off all that master channel plugin goo until the mix is happening and you're ready to deal with the final stage.
-and if you're getting to a more advanced stage,start to use side-chaining to create space and movement with the instruments.
-Mix with emotion,get into the intent of the music,push it out further by seeing how far out there you can pull elements to bring interest.
-Try to create unexpected events,once the listener can anticipate where you're going,they start to lose interest.(ok,that's more of a writin thing)