I aim for 30 minutes but my excitement usually cuts that in half so I end up retweaking stuff after a few minutes of use. I admire your restraint.
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It’s more that I’m able to distract myself with something else that needs done. I’ve cut it short a few times too.
You should at least experiment with Velocity Mod destinations and parameter lock velocity. Also using re-triggering with the velocity slope and velocity mod destinations can add a lot of liveliness to your sounds even with simple destinations. Oh, and pitch/note of course.
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I don’t like the idea of trading it all for a RYTM. I have a RYTMii along with most of the other machines you mention. While you can dial in most anything with the RYTM, it takes time. It is also easy to fall into a rut and start using the same sounds over and over. Just listen to the RYTM expansion packs available at Elektron. To me they all sound the same, droning bass with cutting noise based percussion. Bouncing between the samples of Digitakt to the FM of Model to the variety of TR6s can spark variety and interest. Variety can inspire. Be careful that you don’t give that up if it is important to your creative process.
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I’ll just add to what some others have said on the Sound of the AR.
Right out fo the box the analog engines don’t sound very…::inspiring, that being said with some tweaking the AR can sound amazing, just don’t expect it to be like the experience of something like the Machinedrum where it just sounds good but don’t let that hold you back the AR really is an amazing drum synth it’s just the starting points are rough. If you’re a capable synthesist then youll have no trouble getting it to sound great
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I’ve found in my experience as well, becoming more “expert” on a smaller amount of quality equipment can actually be more creatively liberating than having all your options open across many pieces that you may not have as deep a relationship with. As a byproduct of that pairing down, you also begin to sculpt out a more unique sound unto yourself.
A smaller pallet to choose from is often much more creative.
Cheers!
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I personally really like most the synth engines on the AR. True that you might need some tweaking, but this is actually something i really find inspiring. The process of experimenting and finding a sound you like inevitably opens up the door for happy accidents. Couple this with a decent sampling engine and you have quite a package. In my view the AR is one of the most versatile instruments I have used. Has some downsides but it does what it does really well.
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Room for a cactus or two? 
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Exactly, with lots of different machines (like my smaller modules), I feel first very unfocused, loosing time that I could invest in ‘better’ machines instead, too many options, and jack of all, expert of none.
I don’t gel with the sound of them 
An Aloe Vera then
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My 5 cents...
I’d be careful with Rytm as it is definitely not for everyone. Someone love it and someone not. I bought mk1 when it was released but sold it in 6 months. The main concern for me was the analog drums engine. I spent a lot of time while trying to find sound which I like but without success. I can’t say that Rytm sounds completely bad for me. No! But it takes a lot of time for finding its sweet spots wich are not so wide in my subjective opinion. I prefer open synth architecture of A4 for programming drums. But sample engine combined with analog filters is very nice! At the end I found that I started to use mainly samples (drums, basses, leads). But 64Mb of sample memory per project… In 21st century… For more than $1500… Last year I decided to gave a last chance to Rytm and bought MK2. Sold it again due to the same reasons. Definitely not my instrument. I decided to go with Octatrack. I had it before since its release but only now I recognized its full power. It is cheaper, it’s a solid sampler, so I can pack it with everything I like. I sample all my gear, gear of my friends, VSTs. Every sound you hear can be your instrument with OT. It shines with sample chains (with switched off time stretch) which allow to create grooves instantly! It’s an endless device with endless sound palette.
P.S. This is only my humble personal opinion. I know a lot of people who really loves how Rytm sounds and who make amazing things with it, so it’s a matter of taste.
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the Rytm can mirror nearly every analog drumsynth sound in history and it forces you to understand it’s structure.
I’ve had one in 2015 and now iam back on it with the MK2, it hasn‘t changed much but I did.
I’ve researched a lot of synthesizers and electronics the last few years and coming back to the Rytm shows the potential within the Analog Machines, basically every parameter ever possible on such circuits comparing vanilla drum machines.
the forthcoming potential is of course more modulation and modern routing capabilities.
but the foundation is there, let alone the RS Classic machine for Buchla Bongos. 
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I’m coming to find that almost every Elektron machine takes quite a while before you really find your way with it.
It’s not that it’s hard to learn how they work technically. It’s that it takes a while before you find your way of using it. Before you can consistently get great sounds quickly.
RS machine is a treasure trove of percussion sounds.
Also the ride cymbal for metal sounding hats and rides of course.
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