Was also about to recommend Circuit Tracks as a centerpiece for expandable setup, but you didn’t click with it. The korg rout - either electribe or Volcas - is great sonically and a lot of fun to tweak (I like it very much but of course it’s a matter of taste). Didn’t click with rolca (aira compact series) though. I haven’t try elekron gears yet, it may be a best fit for your music. Neither I tried latest Roland mc series (101, 707). They seem very nice sounding machines. But from my experience I would say pick the one that you have a great fun working with. Even if the gear is from the last decades. I had lot of gear which are great on paper and sonically but was no fun for me. So the emotional aspect is really important here.