various questions
 

Firstly, how can I add the Universal Counting leader option in Premiere to the front of a clip? I dont seem to be able to link it to imported clips as a single file with the leader on the front.

Secondly, can you mix audio tracks at all in Premiere or is it not up to this job? All I want to do is mix stuff from CD over the top of what was already on the video when it was recorded originally, so nothing terribly fancy and complicated. Premiere seems to allow you to add audio tracks but how do you insert or overlay tracks?

You can do basic mixing in Premier. Not as good as VV, but plenty of people have done so. I thought the latest version of Premier came with Fruity loops express? theat would be a legal way to add some music to your video.

The leader is easily made. Just right click on an empty space
in your bin and choose New -> Universal Counting Leader. This
creates a new clip which you can just (ripple) insert before your
other edits.

i sometimes do all my audio mixing i n Premiere when doing quick projects.
its very simple and basic...saves time than actually doing audio in to (IE sound forge) to do pre mixes.