Since you are a CRJ driver, you know that the snowflake is "advisory" VNAV only. It is a great tool, IF you understand its limitations. Having said that, the CRJ does not have a true VNAV feature. I would NOT recommend the technique of setting the "bottom" altitude in a "descend via" arrival in the CRJ. If you do this, you are setting yourself up for an altitude bust. You have ZERO protection with this technique. All it would take is a minor distraction and you could be "off the path" in a heartbeat. Putting in each stepdown is tedious, but at least it offers some automation protection from an altitude bust. Just my $.02