I can't say enough great things about Patrick Iverson. He's a beautiful designer; his work is modern and clean, and he took constructive feedback very graciously. He's a pleasure to work with: considerate, responsible, and personable. His observations were wise and insightful.
How Many WordPress Plugins Is Too Many? How to Audit the Ones You Have
The plugin count is not the problem — it is a symptom. Here is what plugins actually cost in performance, security, and maintenance, and a four-question audit you can run yourself.