Yes, you have absolute freedom to do what ever it is you wanted to do with any thing that you can do inside of the daw
like...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zlUxZjNh3Afor real go listen to some IDM and it will give you a clue as to what you can and can't do lol
or even square pusher
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruc0TnSSi9YYour questions are really pointed and specific to a point where it should be handled by dutiful research on your own part.
Your questions are ALMOST, answering themselves. I think this is due to your intuition of being a musician.
Another comment is that you're asking about taste, you have to develop that on your own and honestly the truthful answer to your entire post is "it depends".
...
You have to consider the volume of groups as well as individual components. your individual components ratios are kept by the group volume. The group volume adds another depth of ratio control.
You're literally building up to the master track or pre master in this way of learning mixing with individual elements, mixing with groups, then mixing for the master.
If you've actually listened to those tracks i posted, you'll realize how much you can do. BTW, those guys use analogue gear and then do some weird stuff that i don't even know about, hell square pusher basically made the hard ware to get those effects in like the 90's.
You have to use your earn and use what you know to get the results that are desired as an artist.
EDIT: sorry, i may have come off as an ass initially, but my point still stands. I am all jacked up on coffee, psytrance, homework, and fatigue.