[linux-audio-user] anti-compressing?

Hi all, Few days ago there was discussion in the list about mastering-CD/compressing/ limiting/gain-upping and so on. I have strange feeling from the discussion. Does it mean, that, indead, we (all CD-listeners) listen DAMAGED with such compressing music? I don't mean any music/sound engineering work! I'm saying about market demands (compressed music is more sutable for cheap audio quipment, isn't it? And compressed sound seems to be better at low volume level, don't it?). If it is true (i.e., a market demands to damage music) - are there any (software) tools to anti-compress a dynamic range? And - is it worth even to try to expand dynamic range? P.S. I'd like to repeat, I don't say about engineers work - they try to do their work as good as possible, I think. I'm saying about a market influence to music quality. Andrew