Hi Joe,
Yep what you mention sounds about right. We also experimented with VIA locations initially, but realised that we had to use interim stops because business and ops insisted that they wanted to collect events on interim stops.
On hindsight, if I would have known, I would have tried to dissuade them from using interim stops - but I guess its too late now.. we are too deep into the project and too close to the go-live to even consider otherwise.
I hope you have better luck with VIA locations.
All the best!