What I do or don’t need is a pretty deep subject! 
But I’m not sure why/ how the number of modules is affected by how many channels I use on each module? Each module must be physically connected and I don’t like/ trust using MIDI Thru … so, since there are in essence 7 exclusive channels on each MIDEX8, it takes 2 to connect 11 modules.
FWIW, all the modules were (in the midst of a move and the studio is not yet completely reconfigured) routed through a patchbay with at least a stereo pair out from each module directly to an ADC input on my interface. From within Cubase I could access all the modules and their patches for monitoring or recording.