Print ready pdf's are the best way to get predictable results from any printer in my opinion. I have quite a bit of experience with printing, I worked at a graphic design firm and I was prepping print files for the senior designers mural projects for companies like McDonalds, 7-11.I ran multiple projects with upwards of 50,000 print pieces per job, and I have also, with my own company worked on print projects for companies like Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and Cocoa-Cola. The industry standard for printing is properly prepared pdf's, these will print on any machine, with any software, and no hiccups with data transfer of any type.
Transparencies and gradients are the enemy of good printing, there are so many ways these effects can be misinterpreted by RIP software, or even different computers that could substitute a color profile if the file is not prepared properly. I print all over North America with many different companies and pdf's give me consistent results, that are duplicatable by anyone with the right knowledge.