Reason is tedious if you don't have a MIDI keyboard.  One thing I like about FL Studio is that you can use your computer keyboard as an instrument instead of a MIDI (but obviously a real MIDI is better if you have one).  It's good for those of us who haven't yet invested in a MIDI keyboard (which, I heard about a great deal across town and might be buying one today).  Those are the only two I've really gotten to know at this point.  From what I've heard others saying, Ableton & Logic are great, but I can't testify.  I know the DJ from Desperation Band uses Ableton--only mention it because I like what I hear from him.

really not keen on garageband, i can see it bein good for recordin instruments an that.. but just can't seem to make the music I want,

i am lucky to have a midi controller anyway.

Yea understand the learnin curve of it. Spose i jus need to wait till i got some time an patience to sit down and get round it all. Never bothered too much with live as you can not save in demo's so unless i get a copy of it or sumit i can not spend much time on it unless i leave it runnin.

Is logic in same style as cubase rather than being like reason?

Curious, but what are you talking about switchin from speakers to headphones?  How does that overlaod the audio engine, it shouldn't even be connected that way.  My headphones are connected to my interface, if I don't want my speakers on I turn them off.  Sounds like you are doing something much different than I...

Cubase 4 Rockzz!! It's very stabel and i've never had any problems with it

But now i'm curious.... what do u use for mastering??

Try linking all tracks together by clicking the little thing that looks like a chain in the upper left hand corner. That should do the trick. I used to run into this issue a lot in Logic 7, but did some research and found out that was my problem because there was too much trying to play in real time. I rarely run into this issue in Logic 8. You are right, this is such a minor issue though and if you were going to use Logic to perform live you would be using MainStage anyways and wouldn't have this problem. I picked up Logic 8 about a month ago and am more than happy with my investment. The potential of the program is unbelievable! I don't see myself needing much (if any) for plug ins and the mastering is top notch. I really can't comment on Cubase because I have never owned it 

An engineer

Well mastering is a bit of an art, and generally requires some experience, the right tools, and a great room.  If you are putting out a legit project I would always pay to have an engineer master it, especially if you have only been producing for a few years.  Lots of people self master, and you can become OK at it, but I have found that a real mastering engineer can get material sounding better.  I have boughten a few tools in the past few years, where I am actually thinking of going down that road soon.  ITs bascially become a loudness war for the uneducated, but I guess its about managing dynamics and eq in a way that translates and brings out the elements of the music.  Mastering will not fix a bad mix, but can take a great one to a whole new level.  I would really advise mastering some material on your own, and then sending a unmastered file to an engineer, so you can first hand hear the difference of a pro.  I've done it multiple times.  I've worked with Neil Kolo of fade records, A local guy (who I still use), and a mastering house in Berlin, they are all just a bit different, and have different strengths, so its a lot more than just throwing on a limiter and such in your host software.  .02

Well I'm not exactly sure what you mean here by accessing the rig, but usually an ME will have everything he needs in his studio to get the job done.  If you are looking for the certain sound of a piece of gear or analog compression etc you may pick one over the other.
Yeah you can just export a stereo 24bit WAV of your track if you would like.  Some people do DAT, but I think most people today do files now.  A few places will even have an FTP etc for you to work with.