Paul, the center rail insulators, aka fiber pins, are to assure that each block has only one feed. They are most probably necessary. I do have one block where, due to a poor connection in a UCS track, some 20 years ago I installed a second drop. Haven't had a signal problem and never got around to repairing it.
I have no idea what Matt is speaking of, since I don't use a hot buss. My common buss is a loop, startung at the U terminals, going around the layout, and ending at the U terminals.