Workflow question - which codec to use?

Starting a project and want to get a quick check before I possibly do something really dumb:
• Shooting on Canon t2i, importing footage off cards via Image Capture
• Taking the resulting .mov (h264) and converting it in compressor to Apple Intermediate Codec (AIC)
• Edit AIC files in Final Cut Pro 6
• Once editing complete, make all clips Offline and reconnect original H264 files
• Render out Final project to self-contained file
• Final color correction in Color
I'm a bit rusty in the video production arena and this is my first project shooting on a t2i. I am a bit unsure about the codec situation and finishing editing with the smallest amount of transcoding. I tested a few codecs and I found AIC to be the fastest and easiest to edit with minimal file size, but I have never used it before. Should I just convert the footage to ProRes and be done with it? I'm expecting a high shooting ratio on this project, so I would like to utilize an offline workflow if possible without crating a bunch of headaches down the road, though with drive prices what they are now, it's not a big deal anymore. I'm really just want to edit as quick as possible (minial rendering utilizing RT) while maintianing good quality (I know the client will be worried if I presented them a 50% quality Jpeg version of the current edit).
Mac Pro 8-core 2.26 w/ 24GB RAM and 3 drive 3TB Internal RAID

Thanks Mr. Ross and Mishmumken for the advice, will definetly do the ProRes route. A few final questions though:
1. I watched the tutorial link a few times which was helpful, but am still fuzzy as to why I need to ingest via FCP. Is there anything wrong with importing from Image Capture and using Compressor to get the footage into ProRes? I see the positives about it, logging the clips, trimming the fat, having it all in the program, avoiding compressor, but does my original method cause any degradation?
2. Can you elaborate a bit, not sure what you mean by Roundtrip and what do I need to prep?
mishmumken wrote:
Just roundtrip your timeline but make sure you prep it before sending to Color: there are limitations ....
Thanks again guys, you have been extremely helpful and probibly saved me a lot of future problems!

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