Yeah, maybe 7 or so VCOs is a tad much. I get carried away with lots of crossmodulative patches, tho, so probably force of habit there.

As for processor effects, have a look at this ongoing discussion I'm having: https://www.modulargrid.net/e/forum/posts/index/2863 . We're discussing strategies about that very thing: how to get a send out, what to do with it, and how to get it back into the synth via a return.