We are not too spoiled for multitimbral synths as of now. Supercritical Redshift 6 is coming up that seems very interesting but that is more than 2x500€…
You say that you don’t want a too menu-ey synth but the new MIDI learn is good for precisely those synths, no?
If you want multitimbral synthesis around 500ish, I think Waldorf Blofeld and MC-101 are one of the few choices? An Ipad also becomes an even better companion for DT now with MIDI learn and the addiotional freedom of up to 16 midi tracks.