Parametric EQ and FFT Filter

Could SteveG or some other knowledgeable person(s) interpret the following link for me - as time permits.  I'm doing some work with the FFT filter and I'm trying to figure out what this thread is saying.  I particularly don't get what David Johnston is saying.  Is there any way you could rephrase it?

http://forums.syntrillium.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=11844

I don't know if this link is talking about the same things the first link is talking about or not.

http://www.dspguru.com/info/faqs/fir/props.htm

Thanks for any light you can shed.

David Johnston, from the old forum:
"Cool Edit's FIR filters (FFT Filter, Graphic Equalizer, Resampling, Dynamics (Band Limiting) and Frequency Band Splitter) do not induce any phase shift..."

...which just means they're linear, as described in your other reference link. Is that what you meant?

David Johnston, from the old forum:
"The IIR filters (Dynamic EQ, Notch Filter, Parametric Eqs and Scientific Filters) do have non-linear frequency-dependent phase shifting going on...."

...but he also goes on to suggest using the Scientific Filters, as they are the best compromise of all the IIR types, because the phase shift is more controllable.
 
Or am I missing something, here? I thought it was fairly straightforward, actually, but maybe not.
 

Best... -Jon

You can increase the low filtering steepness by putting the mid band there, and adjust it's Q setting

Are you talking about the shelf to band switcheroo where you get to take advantage of real steep
s
.l
..o
...p
....e
.....s

                           
instead of just using the s
..........................................helf type that is the default for that range.
 

kylen