I sometimes use a limiter as the last plugin in the chain, set the input to -0.2dB and the output to -0.2dB just to catch anything sneaking through, you don't even know it's there but occasionally it grabs a peak or 2.
I used a limiter this afternoon to keep a recording as dynamic as possible... Turned out I didn't even need it (as the incoming signal never reached the set point of the limiter), but it was still as "security at the gate" --
Voxengo Elephant. I've just been using the demo and easily it can go way louder than my limiter without clipping. I need it, you need it, it's the best I've found by far!