Oh! I’d agree with your reluctance. I absolutely refuse to use VST/AU with Renoise, because it’s built-in engine is just so strong that other effects are not necessary. Everything is clean and exacting.
As for Padshop, use PadSynth. I highly recommend this, because it creates some of the most beautiful and abstract pad sounds within the Renoise software. It’s using the PADSynth algorithm from Paul Nasca (Paulstretch creator), and this same algorithm is used in ZynAddSubFX. It’s very good.