Zealios and MODs are indeed "knock off" cherry switches but they are built by enthusiasts. I've found them to be far better than any mass produced Cherry or Gateron or equivalent MX clone. There's other new stuff on the horizon as well. Unfortunately you are right, these are switches that you can only get by themselves. Doesn't come on any pre-assembled factory board.
I think you should give one of the custom boards/switches or even vintage ones a try. If you've really spent as much as you say you have, I think you've really only touched about 10-20% of the hobby, but have spent as much as a few of us. I know you're saying this is your opinion, however what "ruffles my feathers" isn't the fact that you said what you said, but rather you said it without really diving in too much. Given that you've really only tried OEM factory boards, I'm not too surprised about your conclusions. It's pretty lackluster out there.
I give you the following as an analogy with prices fudged a bit.
Posting on a niche car enthusiast forum with "This might ruffle a few feathers"
I've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars buying hondas, toyotas, fords, chevy etc. However I've narrowed it down to my top three choices being a Mitsubishi Mirage, a Volt, and a Camry.
and then some people are saying, or maybe just me.....I've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars too, and maybe even more over several years. Have you tried a Tesla? Have you tried an Audi? BMW? Lexus? Have you tried to do any engine mods, suspension mods, on your car? Have you done any stereo upgrades? Might not be 100% the right metaphor but I hope it gets the point across.
I can understand if you don't want to go all custom, or not as hardcore as us. But if you're ok with spending that much money, did you know you can have someone assemble it for you too?
Anyway, please don't take this as an attack, but rather a "hey man, don't stop your search there, you still got a ways to go".