While I agree that the ps to distill route will often solve a lot of problems (especially when using Quark), I think it has more to do with the kind of workflow you're using.
Ok, but theorically, there should be no difference between a PDF 1.3 exported from InDesign 1.5 and a PDF 1.3 exported from InDesign CS4 or a PDF 1.3 distilled by Adobe Distiller 6...: a PDF 1.3 is a PDF 1.3 and has to match with the specifications of the 1.3 definition...
... and a RIP or a PDFworkflow "compatible PDF 1.3" should accept any PDF 1.3, no matter how they are created and no matter the release of the creation software...
... so, why in fact, it doesn't work and "
it has more to do with the kind of workflow you're using"???
I don't think there is a generic answer here other than "is your workflow up to date to handle these PDFs"
OK, but:
• no matter the age of the RIP, a RIP "compatible PDF 1.3" is up-to-date to handle 1.3 PDF!!! so why should we buy a brand new 2009 RIP compatible PDF 1.7 and PrintEngine to be able to image a simple old 1.3 PDF???
• AcrobatPro 8 is able to handle 1.7 PDF... so, no problem with PDF 1.4...
... and AcrobatPro 8 is provided in the CS3 suite with InDesign CS3... so both softs are matching together, Acrobat 8 is "up-to-date" with InDesign CS3 and it should be no problem with PDF exported from InDesign CS3...
... then why did I experience many problems with simply opening in AcrobatPro 8 some PDF 1.4 exported from ID CS3 (or Xpress 7)???
(and each time problem disappear with a distilled PDF)
• and what about
almaink's problem: InDesign CS2 is not able to handle a PDF that it has itself exported! would you say that InDesign CS2 is not the good workflow to handle its own PDF??? or that InDesign CS2 is not "up-to-date with itself"???
"be up-to-date" and "upgrade your workflow and your softwares" are the only answers that the Adobe's Hot-Line is able to give to some problems that should not occur and caused by bugs... the only real answer is:
"the softwares that Adobe sells have been written with the feet (in the dark), they contain plenty of bugs, and we pay for crap... and the PDF export is simply not reliable!!!"