D2H initiated experiments in changing SR of TPs. When they acquired two new TPs 11164H and 11164V the SR of these two TPs is different from others (44995 and 43997). Once these two new TPs started working fine around december last year they started changing SR of other TPs also to 44995.
AFAIK D2H also changed its HOME TP from 11483 H to 11164H. This they have done when they activated the TP and after moving channels from 11483H to this TP.
So D2H definitely knows what its doing!!!
D2H probably will not mess with FEC as 54MHz signals are more susceptible to noise.
With a capacity of 44995 KSPS (Kilo Symbols per second) and each signal representing 3 bits (8PSK), now D2H has a bandwidth of 44995 x 3 = 134985 kbps = 131.82 Mbps
Now how many ever channels can be compressed and fit in the 132 Mbps bandwidth it will do.
Technically it might be possible to compress audio/video of each channel separately, the amount of effort required to test the channel with different compression level is huge. And one compresion level may not work in all the cases. So its difficult to find an optimal compression level. Using same compression level for all channels makes some channels really good and may be some really bad. Its all trial and error.