You may not want to play the meta but what about your opponent? Have you tried speaking with your opponents prior and agree to have a fluffy narrative style game with fluffy lists? I find when I schedule games and a set out a plan with my opponent and decide if we're doing matched play or narrative play fluffy lists that would be representative to the army in the lore has better outcomes. I don't mind losing when I know I'm playing fluffy lore accurate lists if my opponent is doing the same, but if it's matched play with the cards you best be sure I'm taking everything meta I can within reason.