"Best" soil is too subjective - you will get 100 answers.

It is not critical to root them in water. Try perlite and water (keep the water level low to keep the perlite in the container). If you have drain holes you will be watering more with straight perlite though.

Up to how many cuttings would you suggest is a good number for this type of pot before one can say its too many and not good?

I would do a minimum of 3, maybe max of 6. You can always thin out the weakest later on.

Does that pot have a hole in it? That is a must, not negotiable. I'd agree about 3-6 cuttings for that size pot. When possible, I use 3 cuttings to a 3" pot so it starts out nicely full.

it does have a hole

That looks like the inner pot of a violet pot where it's meant to absorb the water through the un-glazed portion that would be stuck down in another pot containing water. You don't have to use it that way, but that's what it looks like.

And I agree on 3-6. It will make a nice fuller plant in the long run.

Best wishes in your propagating adventures! Come back and give updates if you can!

yes my plan is to put them in that pot... i thought that rooting in water first was a must... so i dont leave them in water any longer and plant them right now?

I have had great success rooting in water, letting roots grow 5-10 inches before transplanting to a potting mix. Keeping the potting mix rather wet in the beginning helps transition without any issues.

MY experience with this plant, is to first water the mother plant, to make sure it is fully hydrated. Next day I take all the cuttings I want, and I plant them in slightly moist soil. Then, I wrap transparent plastic all around it, making sure not to damage the plant, but airtight. After two weeks I remove the plastic, and start watering as normal. The plastic around it keeps the cuttings lush and fully hydrated. After a couple of weeks, they should have enough roots to fend for themselves

You could root some in soil and water and compare the methods for yourself.