Render Output differs from Playing Output

I have some hard time to understand your second paragraph: Do you mean when we render from a higher sample rate to a lower the fx are applied after the sample rate conversion? Or the difference would come from the playback of the 44.1 rendered files to 96k (the project sample rate)? +1 for [x] render at project samplerate, but convert output file samplerate to Xkhz feature request. That was my workaround: two passes, 1. apply fx to all items as new take, 2. render to 44.1 Thanks.

i won't have time to check until later but there should be some option buried in the item or take settings that'll just do a straight high quality resample

I usually render master mix to stereo track at project sample rate (usually 24 bit/88,200) and then convert this track to 16 bit/44,100. This is the track that is converted to MP3. I do all of the converting in Sound Forge (along with other mastering bits). Works well for me so far (e.g., MP3 sounds like project). Michael