In reply to Indesign ALL CAPS button: what OT-Features does it apply? What is "desired behavior"?:
John, laying out a book is inherently a compromise. Spreads should align. Widows and orphans should be banished. So do you run a page short? Even with running feet? Do you make/save a line & affect the word spacing? How does that affect the next spread?
Etc.
Editors add their own limits to available compromises, usually with the mistaken notion it is "better" typography. Don't hyphenate the last word on a page, or the last word in a paragraph. Not hard, but where do they think the space comes from to achieve that? From the word spacing, of course.
Or the designer specifies "all chapters start verso" with the understanding by the editor there will be no blank rectos...
And editors have this silly notion that the comp shouldn't rewrite the text...
Then there are editors who let an author call 3-4-5 tables or figures right before a new subhead. Basic thinking is tables & figures should be placed after their callout (or on the same spread at least), but before a new section (subhead).
All this before the (interior) designer mucks things up -- like you said -- by choosing a typeface inappropriate to the work, (& just here, I'll reserve "inappropriate" for the character compliment of the font itself). Last week, we had a book where there were a lot of italic superscripted numbers. That was the author's requirement. The font chosen by the designer? Quadraat... Good luck finding Quadraat serif italic lining figures for those superiors...
But yes, firefighting's probably harder. Certainly more dangerous.
