Recommended Mesa setup

Hi everyone.
I'm making a cnc router, I'm in my way to mount the gantry. The z Axis is already working with Axis, a 1605 ballscrew, the motors are closed loop, a nema23 2.2Nm for the z axis, a 8.5Nm for the Y axis (gantry) with rack and pinion and 2 12.5Nm nema34 for the X axis, botj rack and pinion.
I know servos are better, but for now I will use stantard step/dir drivers.
I know this setup doesn't inform linuxcnc where the axis really are, so I'm looking to include digital rulers along the axis. Sooo here comes the doubts. Right now I can run the motors with a BOB, but looking for more inputs I'm interested in mesa hardware. It's a bit confusing. For step/dir the usual setup is a 5i25 with a 7i76, but the encoders for the digital readout comes in 50-pin connectors, so I'm thinking there has to be a way to make step/dir and keep the option of adding encoders.
Am I wrong thinking this? Which setup would you recommend for in the future include the loop from the rule encoders to the system?
Kind regards.

Uhm. Forgot to include that the spindle controller by VFD must also be controlled. I'm writing on my cellphone, I must read carefully the 7i95 manual. If the spindle 0-10v can be implemented it's a safe bet to invest on one board once than several, that can amount to 50% more price than the single board, simpler and neater when wiring. Thanks!

We do have a few 7I95s left and should have 7I96S's maybe at the end of May

I know about the short supply. I was thinking long term, the router is not yet made, in the last few days I made the z axis move and now a lots of drilling for the gantry and the Y carriage before I even mount the next stepper, by the time the whole router it's finished I expect the shortage on semiconductors to be at least less than It is right now. Just thinking ahead, and I'm thankful for the quick replies, I have one less doubt about the electronics. Right now I'm more worried about the price of aluminum, I bought most of It months ago, but the X axis, is almost 2m long and the profiles are 80x160 in my design, and is crazy pricey. Ehm, I'm going off the rails. Anyway I have made my mind about the mesa card, that It has an Ethernet interface is a plus, no need to have the computer "glued" to the machine itself. Need to read the PDF of the card with detail, but it's a lot clearer now.
Thanks again!

Hello everyone.
Just one question. Do linuxcnc correct itself with the digital ruler encoder? I mean, when working a piece, does it correct the router position depending on what the encoder tells the PC? Not a tuning, I mean real-time correction.
Kind regards.

So It's worth waiting for the 7i95 or get now a 7i96E + 7i85.