When ProRes Lags: H.264 for Review Copies

Trying to get review copies out quickly, I've learned that standard ProRes HQ isn't always the fastest or most efficient approach for external stakeholders. For a recent project where quick feedback loops were crucial for multiple departments (marketing, legal, client), I shifted from generating ProRes 422 HQ masters to creating high-bitrate H.264 files (around 20-30 Mbps) for initial distribution. The immediate benefit was significantly reduced upload and download times, especially for clients with slower internet connections or limited storage. The image quality, while not broadcast-ready, was perfectly adequate for review purposes, preventing the common complaint of 'my video won't load.' What didn't work was trying to push these lower-bitrate files through a system that later needed to generate broadcast masters directly from the review assets, that required a return to the full-quality intermediate. This was a valuable lesson in tailoring the deliverable to its immediate purpose. For internal or client review, H.264 wins on speed and accessibility. But the moment final mastering or archive is in question, the high-quality intermediate is non-negotiable. What strategies do others employ to balance speed of distribution with maintaining archive-level quality for different stages of a project?