Yeah I’m doing the same workflow.
I kinda like the idea of the reference workflow cause you don’t have to media manage, and you don’t have to check the final version for stuff like FCP MM screwups (i.e. timewarps, slipped frames, wrong fonts). Or have to deal with Avid_MediaFiles folders.
Are you building your EDL’s without dissolves? I find that if I include dissolves and then expand with handles, Resolve is building duplicate lengthened clips for the dissolve portion of the cut.