For Leah I have about 12-14 that I am using regularly, and Joel has about 10. (Leah only has more as they are the bigger size that they both may be in at the same time soon so if I buy any more I get the bigger size)

I wash every night, that is baby/kids clothes and all the nappies used that day, I dry bucket them but in the heat I prefer to wash more often, so there is usually half of Joels naps in the wash at any one time, sometimes more if he has a pooey day, Leah normally only goes through 3 a day, but we are starting toilet training so if she wants to sit on the toilet then she also wants a clean nappy afterwards. ( I don't have a dryer but find esp at this time of year they dry quickly, if they are still damp then I put them in the hot water cupboard overnight and they are good to go)

Most people recommend at least 12 nappies, just depends on how often you are wanting to wash and if you are using some disposables like us.

Am loving itti bittis at the moment, and I have tried  A LOT of different types

I have found that I prefer AIO's (all in ones) or covers with inserts that you lay in, I hate pockets, thats just me though, loads of people love them.

I also confess to only using cloth during the day as I have never been able to stop Leah leaking through at night, (although haven't tried very hard and not for a while) so with both I use disposables at night, so 2 naps a day to the rubbish bin!

For the boys thing, I find having a hemp insert in the pocket is quite good.

But I have pockets as well and I love them. Adjusting the inserts is a great thing to have as Josh goes through times of heavy and light wetting and as DC change them more often so I don't need so many inserts in there.

Where do you live?? Maybe see if you can see someone with them to have a look at.

The work required depends on the type of cloth nappies you choose, there are so many available ranging from flats and covers (more work due to soaking and folding required) to all-in-ones (basically the cloth version of a disposable).  Many people choose the happy medium of pocket nappys where the only work is stuffing the pockets (and the stuffers are generally the exact right fit so it's not hard at all).

MCNs can just have the solids rinsed off and be chucked through the wash (no soaking required) so it's about as hard as washing your childs clothes.

Until I went back to work we used cloth for daytime and a disposable at night time (we were using old flats and pilchers, if we'd been using MCNs we would have used them at night time too).

I think it's well worth investing in some cloth nappies.  They're super cute, so lovely and soft and you'll love having the extra cash in your grocery budget.