JGL,
Thanks for the explanation. You make a good point about complexity. I now have a Mega controlling 12 switches on my layout. It was much easier to put together than the earlier system with shift registers, RC debounce, Schmitt triggers and optocouplers. Here are pictures of the only board that I had to assemble. The board has screw terminals to connect 24 inputs from isolated rails/push buttons. I am using 10v AC power to activate the AC optocouplers (there are 1k resistors soldered to the back of the board to limit current to the optocouplers).