Compound clip issue- 4 layers with composites workarounds?

I'm new to using compound clips, they sounded like they'd speed up my workflow, but I gather from posts here they're buggy. The compound clip I'm trying to make is from these 4 video tracks at the beginning of the timeline. I'm on DR 16.2.8

V4 .mov Softlight composite
V3 .mov ADD composite
V2 .jpg normal composite, clip begins 107 frames later
V1 .jpg normal composite mode and fade in

The project begins in black and everything fades in and out at different times. The sequence is 12 secs. What seems to be happening in the compound clip is that the V4 layer dominates. For example, at one point there's a black screen (i.e. no content) but in the compound clip at that point V4 layer is showing.

Thanks for any explanations, suggestions or workarounds. This is not a complex project at all. I've got at times 6-7 layers with various transitions and composites, no color grading or fusion, 2-3 audio tracks. It's my project (I'm an artist) and I'm somewhat of a beginner with video editing.

I favor doing this kind of thing in Fusion. Have you explored that at all?

I favor doing this kind of thing in Fusion. Have you explored that at all?

Thanks Jim. I explored Fusion for another project; for this one it would defeat the purpose of simplifying my workflow it seems. It's one of those things, you know, avoiding the rabbit holes, seeing as I've already spent a lot of time composing this piece on several timelines and just need to sync them all up. It's 3 minutes in it's entirety.
Yeah, next project I may want to consider doing the compositing in Fusion from the get-go.