[benwaggoner]

Yeah, using CRF can definitely be a useful tool in this regard. One problem is that some older heuristics struggle with the variable bitrate, especially if they don't make an internal distinction between peak bitrate and actual bitrate. So you'll see this sort of technique used more by companies who either focus only on web or recent devices, or who are able to deliver their own player with custom heuristics. If one is trying to work with the build-in DASH client in older living room devices, things get fraught quickly.