I have no problem with using delays before reverb. It's all about the sound... And for what it's worth, I also
do often like to use delays as inserts (as you saw above) because I tend to build my sonic space up by creating different (pseudo) "locations" for each track with delay settings along side panning, volume, eq and reverb types and amounts.
For example I use delays that may have a longer regen (or longer deay, or just simply be louder) on the side the track is NOT panned to. In other words I will pan my first BGV 70% right, and shoot a little more delay to the left side. And on the 2nd BGV which is panned to the other side (left) I will do a right favoring delay of a subtly different tempo.
This creates a sonic space that is unique and beautiful if you work at it. Please not again the delays are very short, and very faint, and have little regen in this scenario.
Sending all the tracks varying amounts to a single delay on a bus creates a completely different sort of sonic space which also might be legit for a particular goal, and I do sometimes use this method as well.
I agree that using lots of different delays can mud up the space if you're not intentional, but in a way what we are doing with many different delay timings is creating a rudimentary and simple reverb. Especially with Sonitus which has the genius diffusion control. But we are taking control over the placement of different sources in this pseudo reverb field.
If you like I can upload some songs that exemplify some of these types of things. And if you're ever rolling through Dallas you ought to stop by the studio.