RBK50, RBS50v2 and RBW30 questions

Sorry in advance if this is a little convoluted.

I have an Orbi AC3200 system (RBR50/RBS50) that's been in place since 1997.  I've tried adding to it over the years to improve coverage with intermittent success. 

I purchased a smaller Orbi router and satellites (can't recall the model) to see if I could use the satellites to extend my RBK setup.  While nothing specifically said they wouldn't work...they didn't. 

I later purchased a couple of RBW30's (plug in extenders) which have gone on and off line at random.

I also purchased an RBK50-100NAR (refurb) to see if THOSE satellites would extend my mesh.  They were labeled as RBS (and RBR)50-v2.  I would have thought the v2 would be backwards compatible with the v1 RBR50 but nope.

I assumed I could update the FW on my RBR50-v1 setup to work with the RBR50-v2, but that's when I discovered my Orbi's FW upgrade function was defunct.  It says it's looking for new FW...sometimes it says it's found some, but then fails when I try to upgrade, or says it can't find anything but usually just craps out in the process.

So, not wanting to drop $3k on a whole new latest mesh system, I thought I'd see what was the best solution.  Apparently trying to upgrade by adding new RBS50s is a hit or miss depending on version, and since the FW won't upgrade, it could even be mismatched FW keeping new satellite from connecting. 

Lately my system has said it could 3 of 4 satellites, but then only shows ONE satellite (the RBS50-v1).  I just tried a couple of time to 'add new satellite' and hit the SYNC button on the RBS50-v2 and one of the RBW30's only to be told that no satellite was found.  I said fine, try again. Same result.  Last time I said try again later and exited the app. Then about an hour later when I checked my Orbi app, it says 4 of 4 satellites have been found (???) and shows the two RBW30's (I only hit SYNC on one of them, and it failed, according to the app, and the RBS50-v2 still doesn't show up...and after saying it couldn't find any satellites and I was doing nothing, then the little plug ins magically reappeared).

So to say my system is kludgy would be an understatement. 

Given the patchwork of attempts with various positive and negative results, I'm thinking I'll just forklift upgrade and go with something newer than AC3000 that hopefully will have functional FW upgrade capabilities.  

My question: What is the recommended next level upgrade I should consider given the COVERAGE of the RBK50 has been mostly adequate?

I don't need to go full Orbi 970, but would and Orbi 850 system (AX6000 router and 2 sats) work for the next few years without leaving me hung out to dry too soon like I'm feeling with my AC3000 system?  That setup is under $1k, and that seems do-able...Rather not spend anything, but, well...

So reaching out to 'the community' for input and perspective 🙂

Thx, 

David