Originally Posted by cpach

As for an actual advise rather than convincing you not to do it...

This isn't hard to do, especially. You'll need a new shifter, cassette, derailleur, chainring, and probably chain. Probably the most cost effective drivetrain that works well is Microshift Advent, which is 9 speed with either a 11-42 or 11-46 cassette with a clutch. Advent X is slightly more expensive and 10 speed. Nicer than that, Deore 12 speed is really nice for its price, but that starts to sound like a poor value given the bike you're upgrading, unless you really love it.

This isn't an insane idea to me. 1x may not give you the same combinations of range and/or spacing, but it means that you can always shift into the gear you need quickly--3x can be awkward off road to make last-minute shifts into lower gears. It'll also get you a clutch, which will be a lot quieter off road and have better chain retention. It's nice for commuting in traffic when you don't settle into one gear for very long, and nice off road when you need to change gears very often. Multiple chainrings are nice for closer spacing on recreational road rides and on most gravel riding.

It might be financially smarter to sell your existing bike and buy one that's speced closer to what you want, since your upgrades won't translate into much increased resale value for your existing bike, but then you have to go through the hassle of selling your bike and buying another. And maybe you just like your existing bike and want to tailor it to your preferences. It's all your choice.