Oops. Sorry @pianoleo. I misread your first comment. So the guys you listed are all putting the sub. after the dynamic and in the Gould and Stone “recommended” style that I am accustomed to. So if there has been a style shift, it may be confined to some quarters only.
Correct. I did also find plenty of instances of “sub.” before the main dynamic, but typically following either rests or long notes; situations in which the “sub.” is arguably redundant!
I figure it’s a matter of artistic license: you do what you want, but if it all goes south, you’re responsible. 
Interestingly JoAnn Kane Music Service puts the sub consequently in front of the dynamics.
I can clearly see that there is quite a bit of passion and time put into this thread. I’m just stating my experiences along with every musician/colleague I’ve run into
this past week. Absolutely no one wants to see the Sub after the dynamic. I see that there may have been some prior work in the studios copied with Dorico with the sub after. Is it possible since this was the default setting they just kept it this way? Curious…
T
The vast majority of the composers I mentioned were Sibelius; a couple Finale. Only one was Dorico. So if it’s that list of film composers you’re talking about, no, it’s nothing to do with Dorico’s defaults.
Hi john, just 2 quick questions on this: If a newly created dynamic (or indeed tempo definition) is modified via Properties, to mark it as "global"will that enable it to be reused in future projects? Also, it a new Playing technique and corresponding playback techniques is invented, will it actually PLAY back in Dorico (or would that need programming)? Thanks, Frank
To reuse a user-created playing technique you click the star to add it to your User Library:
As for the rest of your questions, my Dorico chops are a little rusty at the moment because I’ve been finishing up a large Finale project and I never did get to the playback part of Dorico. Hopefully someone more knowledgable will answer,
They would need a corresponding playback technique and the action needs to be specified in the corresponding expression map. I usually start by creating new playback technique, then create a new playing technique and map the playing technique to the playback technique in the New Playing Technique dialog. Then I move on to the expression map.
Documentation is your friend here but if have specific questions, feel free to ask.
Thanks for the tip. Frank
Ok, I am trying this out now, thank you.
Frank