i'm a minimalist device wise too, but a light is a must. i definitely think bikes with an integrated light should integrate a varia (as specialized and others have in a few places) but if your bike doesn't already have a light, the varia isn't an extra device, it's a slightly bigger light. even if you don't connect it to your head unit or phone, you get the benefit of it flashing at cars as they approach, then going back to solid after. you've seen how clean my cockpit is
no extra devices. one total.
i move both the varia and phone from creo to aethos and back and forth and it's never been any problem whatsoever.