[Imp]

Simon my thoughts on VHs pretty much as yours normally 3-5 clumps possibly 7 in MBT due to extra mobility but not often.
Dont leave the no mans land placement depends on terrain features just try to balance reasonably well erring on the side of player 2 for meetings. Do change all flags apart from any near the centre to controling player to stop info as change.

2 Groups also work well major & secondary objective, can either not use all flags double up or if objective is say a crossroad spread in the area around it. You dont actually need any on the road place them in places the road is vulnerable from you are securing the road or whatever against future attack.
Thats the only way scattered hexes works for me a dispersed group if you like covering an area not all over the map.

Have played meetings without flags as my thinking is often objectives are off map & they both bumped on the way or one side moved to engage the other & that is the only objective.
Found it did not make that much diffrence VHs basicly weight how you setup perhaps modifying the importance of some terrain features, does possibly allow more freedom the only reason to leave part of your force behind is to watch for flankers etc. Probably faster more cohesive as less mopping up as not so worried about missing a unit. Info or your arty park are all he can achieve without VHs
Will not work with those players that play a meeting as a delay though.

A thought here on VHs if possible the ability to choose the type either as is or give points each turn they are controlled. Not thought through but would mean capturing on last turn wont do much only suited to meetings though would think & yes I know they have these in SPWAW
For those that complain about VH values being to low in MBT might help to.