My two cents. When I joined AMSAT two years ago, I received several written materials about best operating practices (even though, as I discovered, information was out of date and not being practiced any longer). One was: CW below the center of the bandpass, SSB above it, on linear satellites. I quickly discovered, however, SSB stations were operating both below and above center, and CW stations, while generally below center, sometimes could be heard above it. Is a return to the future appropriate? That is, CW and SSB where they supposedly existed once upon a time? For the past 18 months, as a CW guy 75% of the time, I start calling CQ or listening for CW activity beginning about 5 kHz below center and drift down in frequency during a pass (not having Doppler software). But I'm not sure if even that much space is needed for CW ops, especially given that activity on satellites seems to be about 3/4 SSB and 1/4 CW. I'd be happy to see just the bottom 5-10 kHz of any bandpass reserved for CW, if some sort of band plan is adopted and comes into general use. That also would get me off my butt and finally install Doppler software. I'd also love to see "CW activity days," scheduled on a regular basis, for example the first Saturday of every month, but that just may be my pipe dream.
Also, the AMSAT material that I received two years ago contemplated "The One True Rule," which seems to have disappeared unless I'm not seeing it on the air. Another return to the future? That is, holding a receive frequency and nudging transmit frequency around? Of course, that does not solve the problem of stations drifting through the receive frequency that you're keeping constant, which happens now.
Constantly adjusting power downward is a good operating practice that definitely needs emphasis. I've discovered, while operating, that I've often needed to reduce power a lot more often than tinkering with tuning manually. And yes, CW ops should be encouraged to use SSB filtering, not CW filtering, on receive. Great idea. You'll be able to take quick action to avoid QRM'ing others. Also, I don't know how many juicy DX stations I've worked (48 entities now) because they were a little off frequency--and I still heard them with the SSB filter on, but I never would have if I had used a CW filter.
Finally, re digital modes: I'm not a fan, but if allowed on linear satellites, educating ops to reduce power to a minimum is critically important, so as not to QRM CW and SSB stations elsewhere in the bandpass. Digital modes limited to a certain swatch of the bandpass, if a band plan is adopted? Say the uppermost 5-10 kHz?
All this said, I find that the vast majority of ops, 90-95%, are very courteous on the air and make use of best operating practices. I don't feel soured in any way, operating CW and SAT on linear satellites. It's still a magical experience for this OT, who started in 1957 with a Heathkit AT-1 and Hallicrafter S-38D receiver.
Wes NA1ME