For me, and this is highly personal, i can't imagine putting anything before initial EQ. It would seem pointless imo to place effects on a signal that I felt needed correction. The only times I make exceptions is for a signal that needs to be gated,if I am working with a noisy sound source that needs noise reduction, if I am using pre-recorded material like third party loops or  other premastered pre-mastered material or a vsti that allows me to shape the sound before entering the channel

 OP:"It seems that the general consensus is to have EQ before compression on individual tracks along with an optional EQ after compression.  Got it.  I'll come back to the 2nd EQ..."
 
I think the consensus is more like what AT wrote a few posts up. Don't add anything (especially on tracks) unless it's necessary. Your wording makes it sound as if you thought it's like "normal way" to put EQ and compression (+one more EQ) on every track. It sure isn't.

Kalle Rantaaho
 OP:"It seems that the general consensus is to have EQ before compression on individual tracks along with an optional EQ after compression.  Got it.  I'll come back to the 2nd EQ..."
 
I think the consensus is more like what AT wrote a few posts up. Don't add anything (especially on tracks) unless it's necessary. Your wording makes it sound as if you thought it's like "normal way" to put EQ and compression (+one more EQ) on every track. It sure isn't.

This info is just what I have gathered from looking around and asking questions.  Not necessarily my personal opinion.  Not adding anything is great in theory, but I am skeptical that you'd get the best(subjective) results.  True...there may be cases where nothing is needed on a particular track, however that will only work so far.  At some point an eq or compressor will be required.  
 
This whole discussion really stemmed from wanting to make templates for different projects. (ie. Mixing template, tracking template, mastering template, etc.)  Having eq+compression+eq doesn't mean it would be used on every track.  It might preloaded ready for use.    

Lydian Audio
If its one thing I dislike about the digital world is it seems to be very wishy washy.  There is no clear cut "this is how you do it" scenario.

Nah... you can actually do more, so people feel the "need" to do more (just because they can sometimes). Simplicity is elegant... and many "best known" songs have that element.
 
The digital age introduced a few wonderful things... For audio, if you get the cleanest signal, you can save this and always come back to it years later... decide the processing "doesn't fit," alter it to a completely new sound "instantaneously," and off you go. For MIDI, the data is simply key information, so can "plug and play" to different synths and tailor the audio output in the same way. Digital allows you to always go back and "change your mind" and those changes do not require re-recording (or figuring how to make the tape not squeal because it has been shelved for years).
 
AT said it most succinctly... resist (violently at times) the urge to pile effects onto anything... if you feel that need, the base signal might simply need to be redone.

mettelus

Lydian Audio
If its one thing I dislike about the digital world is it seems to be very wishy washy.  There is no clear cut "this is how you do it" scenario.

Nah... you can actually do more, so people feel the "need" to do more (just because they can sometimes). Simplicity is elegant... and many "best known" songs have that element.
 
The digital age introduced a few wonderful things... For audio, if you get the cleanest signal, you can save this and always come back to it years later... decide the processing "doesn't fit," alter it to a completely new sound "instantaneously," and off you go. For MIDI, the data is simply key information, so can "plug and play" to different synths and tailor the audio output in the same way. Digital allows you to always go back and "change your mind" and those changes do not require re-recording (or figuring how to make the tape not squeal because it has been shelved for years).
 
AT said it most succinctly... resist (violently at times) the urge to pile effects onto anything... if you feel that need, the base signal might simply need to be redone.

Yeah traditionally I have been brought up in the purists hi end loudspeaker world where the less you have the better.  That's why I say its not about using everything that is in the chain, but they are there ready to go when called upon.  Unlike the analog world if its in the chain its changing the sound.  The digital world gives you the option of having them loaded up, but not active.  I've watched a couple a CLA interviews and he speaks of having eq and compression on every track.  Not sure he means they are being used or again just there if he needs them.    

+1, you are on the money!
 
I just saw your templates post... just keep in mind you can save ProChannel settings (hover over the PC name and will see save/load icons), and FX chains too... you do not need to set those up at a "global level."
 
Project templates, on the other hand, for tracks and bus routings I would suggest "global."