I was thinking to use LEDs as volume / zone indicators on the wall plates as i cant find a screen that will fit nicely on one - also its not really needed on the wall plates,
the idea was to duplicate each wall plates buttons and leds on the main systems front panel, but i think ill just install an LCD screen on the front panel for status updates, and like you said with both just hold in buffer as it wont change very much at all.
i was also thinking of using arduino minis (DIL ones) in each of the wall plates to expand them further int eh future given they are only $12 each and the coding on each one will really be the same (just an i2c address change with jumpers on the back) but still unsure, given each one will already have i2c connections its not that hard to expand them anyway ...