loader devices for fast belt filling/emptying

This is about loader devices*, not clever arrangements of the vanilla Factorio components like belts, splitters, inserters, and logistics.

At last check, there are something like twenty different Factorio mods that add at least one kind of "loader" functionality, maybe with other functionality**.

Thus the questions:

• Which loader mod(s) do you think has the best balances for recipe cost vs. power vs. performance?
• Which loader mod(s) are your favorite(s) and why?
• Have you ever intentionally enabled more than one type in the same megabase game so as to simultaneously support wagons (inserter-based) and lower UPS-impact (loader-based)?***

Thanks for your time!

​

Useful prior posts related to this topic: https://www.reddit.com/r/factorio/comments/q3q2ke/miniloader_vs_vanilla_loaders_vs_loader_redux/

https://www.reddit.com/r/factorio/comments/zgoc5w/playing_kr2se_trying_to_go_for_a_lategame/

https://www.reddit.com/r/factorio/comments/ikka1r/what_are_loaders_and_how_do_they_work/

​

* You know, the ones that some of the devs allegedly decided would upset the balance of the game too much.

** Some are based on inserters (supporting wagons and other edge cases) and others simply enable Factorio's existing-but-hidden loader functionality. Some fit within a single tile, others require more space. Some may support filtering, some may support circuits, some may combine their functionality with other features like belt or lane balancing. Some are part of a system of higher tiers of belts, others more in tune with the base game limits. Some alter how products are belted into stacks, others preserve standard belt items. Each may require its own unique recipes to assemble them, thus unique costs. Some might have incompatibilities with other mods.

*** Searching "Loaders" in this subreddit revealed that inserter-based loaders basically cost UPS equivalent to four stack inserters, those that use the hidden built-in loader are more efficient as long as they don't invoke the Lua tick hook to support wagons, etc.