^^^ Aw, man, that's a heart-breaker right there. Darn old aluminum!!

To the OP, certainly have felt the disappointment or at least quiet uncertainty of a "logically good" build and then it's....ok? My Masi is on its third groupset build under my ownership (just passed the 1-year mark), but it's the Version 3.2 that has it really singing. The 7400 Dura-Ace was doing well, but I bumped up from a 12-19T 7-speed FW to a 12-23T 7-speed unit a little bit ago. Still, not as fun as it could be. It's always been a smooth bike, but I wanted it to be more fun--something I knew it could be. Well, swap the 20+ year old tan wall tires (look great with those MA40s) to muuuuuch newer Conti GP 24mm ones, while tucking the wheelbase in another 1-2mm, and this thing hums and rides like perfectly adjusted bearings. Not harsh, not cushy, just right on the freakin' money.

If I've learned anything from builds with expectations (like many of us do), it's to give the bike a little bit of a chance to 'find itself' under your care and ridership. It may be a visual composition thing, or a ride quality thing, and/or a fit thing. The Peloton went through this and is my #1. The Masi has done that as well, and is my #2 (by just a tiny bit!). If you really like the frame and know it has part of or all of an 'it' factor that you like, keep with it. Let the mental marination of solutions simmer for a while. And if the frameset has to lie fallow for a while, then so be it. You'll figure it out one way or the other.