Is this pretty much it - FX channels are there for historic reasons, or?
If you are asking if they fullfil any role that groups can’t also cover, then no, they don’t.
What is meant by 8 FX send channels?
On an audio/instrument track/channel there are 8 sends. If you were to need more than 8 you would have to route to a group which of course would have a further 8.
The comparison chart “FX return channels” is that the number of those fx busses you can create in FX folder?
It is the max number of FX channels you can add to Cubase…Stereo or Mono makes no odds. 64 is max.
And I ask myself - can I live with these odd non-intuitive naming of what is to be my main tool working all days?
Serious doubts, I tell you.
If this is your greatest concern in choosing a DAW then I wonder if your mind is working a little differently to most 