I looked into this (including on this forum!) when I first started investing. I understand your frustrations regarding fees and taxes OP. But after considering ETFs, investment trusts, and a basket of stocks, I ended up just opening an investment policy with an insurance company to invest into a global index fund. It’s a very simple, “set it and forget it” solution that protects me from myself and helps me sleep at night. I check my investments once a month when I update my finances spreadsheet. Losses and gains are offset within the fund/policy. No taxable events except for every 8 years (but that might change if the Funds Review recommendation get implemented by government in the meantime). If I want to adjust my asset allocation in the future I can switch funds for free and without a tax event (e.g. if I want to add bonds and not just stocks later). The only advantage I see with going to the CGT regime is that usually it’s cheaper (no AMC) but with all the transaction fees and trades you might end up doing (let alone behavioural mistakes!) I’m not sure you’d still come out ahead anyway (happy to be corrected).
PS: all the above assumes that you are already maxing out your pension, which is hands down the cheapest and most tax efficient way to invest, provided you get a decent AMC!