Sorry it didn't help guys. I'm not fully aware of all the issues regarding VE, but wanted to try and help. [:)]
hetoreyn - Well if VE2 crashes when more than one instance is created in Logic, then VE2 is probably not working correctly which makes me think it really is "beta" software even though VSL doesn't label it as such. Like you said I'm sure these problems will be fixed in VE3 because VSL appears to have a price tag on VE3. Like you, I still use VI. I feel that VE2 is still a little too buggy for me, but I'm sure VE3 will be fantastic. Also, I do my work on one machine so I wouldn't be able to make use of VE's audio data over LAN feature, which to me seems like VE's real advantage to users because it greatly simplifies the farm setup.
Jim - I think I see what you are talking about, do you mean you want the individual instruments in VE to be bused to different locations? I don't see how busing midi channels would do anything since midi data is only a set of instructions and doesn't actually produce any sound. It seems to me that as long as the each midi channel is reaching the appropriate instrument in VE, then the audio output from those instruments in VE is what requires busing into Altiverb, not the individual midi channels. Maybe I'm totally off on this, but I think that's right? If VE doesn't offer you this kind of flexibility then there is always VI, although I can see how it might be nice to be able to bus the individual VI's in VE to different locations in your sequencer.
Brian