All inserts, even ones like side chain ins/outs on compressors should be normalled. Inputs and outputs of all equipment like effects processors, compressors, outboard EQs, the mains outputs of a console, all the line inputs of your recording devices should be straight connections. The conventional wisdom here is anything that NORMALLY an unbroken connection (like an insert) is normalled at the patchbay. Any connection you need to get to rather than climbing behind the racks, you bring it straight to the patchbay. You can get creative with normalled connections on things like the main out from the console and the line input of the mix down device. It's could be a normalled connection were you could insert a compressor on the two buss.
