Bidule: Thinking about it - yes as a plugin, each VE instance will occupy the same space. So I seem to be, again, missing your point! Sorry.
Indeed, I tried hosting VE on a separate machine within cubase and hit a memory wall regardless of how many instances. But just to be clear about Bidule, at least as a re-wire (and standalone in as far as I have tested it) it seems a little shaky. Although it's an extraordinary piece of software. I have read of users progamming Bidule to recognize pitch on incomming audio. Very advanced...
For me the following is working:
2 Instances of VE on a single MacPro with 10GB Ram.
2 2408's, shared by both instances (ie they are "polite" to each other about sharing a soundcard).
Instance 1 is using 2.39GB
Instance 2 is using 2.73GB (not bad for 32 bit)
The ability of VE to now address (and share accross) 64 outputs as redically changed the potential of all this, avoiding the need for multiple sound cards. 96 outputs would be welcome, as that's the limit of the 424 card.
Ben