Yeah I quite like this functionality as well; particularly the integrated input/output stages on each chain unit. Very nice to be able to drop in a 'simplified' version of any plugin anywhere in the channel strip, with customizable controls (not to mention the possibility of opening the full interface if you need to tweak anything else) and a built-in input and output stage.
As a bonus (I think someone else pointed this out somewhere, but just to reiterate) you can drop a blank one in before/after the excellent Saturation Knob, which has up to now been hampered by a lack of gain control - using the gain staging of the blank FX chain to get it under control. Works a charm and allows use of higher saturation settings without clipping the channel.