QT vs MPEG2 storage...anyone?

Hey Premiere Gurus,

My question revolves around storage and finding a viable alternative to using those bulky, space draining high-res, Animation codec QT files.

Here's what I mean;

I usually export high-res, 720X480, Animation QT files as a master source file to either store away clips (thereby preserving my original edits)or to be able to call upon those high-res QT files to re-edit/re-package and re-export them.

As you all know high-res QT's are insanely large, so I've been looking for an alternative format that can essentially replace it. I know that the Animation codec preserves a heck of a lot of data (hence, the large file size), but can anyone think of a space saving alternative? *Knowing that -in my case -my end format is delivered at 320X240 WMV, with an average weight of 25MB.

Well...I've done some tests and believe that format to be MPEG2.

Here's what I did to come to that conclusion;

I exported a master mpeg2 file from a high-res QT. They looked astonishingly similar (it even beat out the same file encoded as a QT in DV/NTSC format).

I then took that mpeg2 file and brought it into Premiere in a 720X480 sequence. It imported and played back just fine.

I then exported it as a WMV file 320X240 (which is the master source file used for mobile video content). It looked great. And did I mention that my new master MPEG2 file is only 38mb compared to the 1.58G QT file.

So really, my question ladies and gents is;

Can anyone think of a reason why I should NOT use MPEG2 files as my master/source editing/master storage file?

Because as it looks to me, this is a very viable storage solution. Especially since my material is aimed at the mobile market and is not intended for broadcast.

Thanks for any input all!

-filmapprentice