With a 6 man, balanced (2 tanks, 2 arcane, 1 cleric, 1 rogue) party, should I go for a "0 ECL" party, or should I not worry about having most characters have an ECL above 0? NOTE: Non-HOF, then going back and doing HOF.

In my experience, the drow, deep gnome, and aasimar all are more than worth the ECL penalty. Other than, say, the grey dwarves, the benefits of the ECL race more than make up for the levels behind.

I go for the highest ECL penalties possible. The early game is easy enough to do with level 2s instead of level 4s, and the late game benefits are significant.

I wouldnt stunt my main spellcasters much, if at all. I think it makes a difference with them, your cleric and sorcerer most importantly. i guess monks too, as they get so many level-dependent abilities.

i like the idea of using ECL races for the tanks, backup spellchuckers, rogues(preferably multiclassed already) or druid too, because i dont think its as critical to have these guys at maximum levels at all times. its ok to multiclass or ECL a wizard too, because its hard to find scrolls to fill the higher level spell slots. this is another reason to have a max level sorcerer!!!

What about tiefling?

What about multiclassing? Are you helping or hurting spellcasters?