I'm starting to run my romex wiring in my new shop building and have some questions/comments as to what is/isn't code mandated. This is the largest wiring effort I've ever done. Anything previous in houses, etc was typically just adding an outlet or ceiling fan wiring - so this is rather extensive in comparison. This is also being inspected. 
1- My horizontal routing through studs is about 1 foot above the outlets - around 5' off the ground. Using a 5/8" bit through the center of 2 x 4 studs - I believe that gives me plenty of leeway to avoid the 1 1/4" requirement. Comments?
2 - Routing through top plates - I am using same 5/8" bit adjacent to stud locations to route the romex down to outlets and around the walls by feeding over the truss chords - at the very edge of the walls. Does this require stapling where they cross trusses? My understanding is nothing is required if the cabling is not in an area where it can be disturbed/walked on.
3 - How many romex (12/2) can I feed through the top plate holes? I've read other threads here that refer to either 2 or 3 only can be feed through stud holes - but nothing referring to top plates. This would also apply to the top plate location above my circuit breaker panel - yes?
4 - Near my entrance door - I want 2 separate 3 gang boxes to mount 6 switches. I have mounted one on the left stud and the other on the right stud - within the same opening - so there is about a 2 or 3" gap between the two. I've run several romex cables from the top plate down the left stud - and some of these are to route to the right side gang box. Is it a violation of code to do this? The right stud also has a round light receptacle box about 2 feet above the gang box so it would interfere with routing cables from above down from the top plate.
1- My horizontal routing through studs is about 1 foot above the outlets - around 5' off the ground. Using a 5/8" bit through the center of 2 x 4 studs - I believe that gives me plenty of leeway to avoid the 1 1/4" requirement. Comments?
2 - Routing through top plates - I am using same 5/8" bit adjacent to stud locations to route the romex down to outlets and around the walls by feeding over the truss chords - at the very edge of the walls. Does this require stapling where they cross trusses? My understanding is nothing is required if the cabling is not in an area where it can be disturbed/walked on.
3 - How many romex (12/2) can I feed through the top plate holes? I've read other threads here that refer to either 2 or 3 only can be feed through stud holes - but nothing referring to top plates. This would also apply to the top plate location above my circuit breaker panel - yes?
4 - Near my entrance door - I want 2 separate 3 gang boxes to mount 6 switches. I have mounted one on the left stud and the other on the right stud - within the same opening - so there is about a 2 or 3" gap between the two. I've run several romex cables from the top plate down the left stud - and some of these are to route to the right side gang box. Is it a violation of code to do this? The right stud also has a round light receptacle box about 2 feet above the gang box so it would interfere with routing cables from above down from the top plate.