Do not put baluns in single element dipoles that would be used for anything other than the frequency they're cut for or the appropriate odd harmonic. Multiple-element "fan" dipoles are great with a good balun. Always use current baluns. The ONLY exception to this are the Radio Works "Remote Balun" and another 4:1 balun called the "Centaur".
The idea on all digital modes is NOT to affect or distort signal cleanliness with any amount of "ALC" limiting or compression whatsoever. That means adjusting digital and or analog input levels and transmitter gain circuitry for thresholds below where the ALC "limiting" circuit shows or indicates any level whatsoever.
The developers of what and the automatic logging of what? I'm not really sure exactly what you're asking here. QRZ will support direct entry of FT2 when the ADIF specification supports it. As far as other logging software, QRZ has not control over that. How does one operate FT2?