The "t" may be slurred some in the plural, "sects", but it needs to be there or it would sound the same as "sex".

How do you guys say insects then? Got to say the "t" otherwise it would be "insexs" which would sound lazy to many natives. What would a Kiwi say about this given their position on "six" and "sex"?

It shouldn't be. It is a little hard to get your tongue around the "cts" combination. When I pronounce it, there is a "t" but it isn't very strong. I imagine it is quite common for it to be omitted. The sounds of the words "sects" and "sex" are so similar, and the meaning would be so obvious from context, that I would not even notice the omission of the "t." If you're having trouble, don't worry about it. (Just be careful not to use it in a context where it might sound like a pun!) I've recorded myself reading a passage from a poem--I did this intentionally to get a running start and put the word into realistic context--and you can hear how I pronounce the word. https://vocaroo.com/i/s1Sk6pBPip8q And lately, by the Tavern Door agape, Came shining through the Dusk an Angel Shape Bearing a Vessel on his Shoulder; and He bid me taste of it; and 'twas--the Grape! The Grape that can with Logic absolute The Two-and-Seventy jarring Sects confute: The sovereign Alchemist that in a trice Life's leaden metal into Gold transmute:

In the singular form, sect, the t is clearly pronounced. However, I do not pronounce the t in the plural form. I'm actually sitting here trying to make the t sound between the c and the s, and am finding it very difficult to do. I am a native US-English speaker from Michigan.

Sects should be pronounced with the "t" sound. I know it can be a tad confusing, because there are other words that are not pronounced with the "t" sound. Here is a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AyWJfQZnI0 that pronounces the word correctly. Hope this helps!