Well, nearly any medium can be overwatered, it's just a matter of probablility. I've found LFS and solid-walled pots to be detrimental in my growing conditions (indoors under lights). Thus, I use orchid bark mix and wood baskets (for the phals) or I mount the orchid to corkbark with a strands of LFS for a little moisture retention for the following species: Dendrobium anceps, Dendrochilium uncatum, Encyclia polybulbon, Lockhartia micrantha, Masdevallia collina, Bulbophyllum blumei & odoratissimum, and Apendicula elegans. I love the A.elegans' and B.odoratissimum's tiny white and yellow flowers, respectively!
I'm surprised to hear you're having difficulty with Phals as most find them to be one of the easiest genera to grow. As for myself, oncidia are my nemesis.
I think your statements on growing conditions make a good point: watering, light, soil mix, and fertilization are interacting conditions, and cultivation tips that work for one person may not work for another.
Thanks for mentioning the bagging method for plant resucitation. Like I said, I've never had a sickly orchid save for one given to me by a friend. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
What you experienced with your cattleya, I've experienced with my cobra plant. I transplanted it into peat moss with fertilizer in it--supposedly bad, but the plant is thriving.