For me I’d be hesitant about recommending you get an SSR1 no matter it’s version/iteration if the OSR2/SR6 are off putting to you.
Firstly the SSR1 or rather the FUNSR1 I believe is based off early alpha versions of Tempest Max’s designs of the SSR1 which has been improved since. I don’t know exactly the differences but it was only March that Tempest released the first beta version fully (build instructions and all) taking it from alpha to beta state. So it’s still most likely got problems with it that I would expect to occur more often than the OSR2/SR6 as those have been refined over a longer period and had more eyes and hours tested. Additionally the SSR1 uses a completely different method of movement via using brushless motors instead of servos I believe. So dealing with that when it breaks could be largely more expensive and challenging to fix.
You will at some-point need to fix the OSR2/SR6 as servo’s will break eventually (my SR6’s 7 servos have been going strong since I purchased it in December 2023 with one breaking within warranty) with the main problem with replacing them being you just need the time an patience to do it right…although I can easily imagine having an less cramped space that the OSR2 provides from having 3 servos makes it much less of an pain.
Now I have an SR6 and have still got my Handy that I used for a few years before upgrading and honestly both of them are roughly the same plug-in and play But Only After I refined both hands free setups so I can just then pull on my VR and know either wouldn’t go off the rails. Handy though I’ve had more random trouble with it but I didn’t try to use MFP (MultiFunPlayer) with it and instead Handycontrol so no idea if software was an factor though I doubt it.
The Handy 2 does have something that SSR1/OSR2/SR6 can’t do and that is it’s got battery power so it is highly more mobile than any of them although your hands free setup might not.
Direct connection via USB cable will make the lag be as minimal as possible though it is possible to get similar reductions via optimizing stuff if time and effort (on the Dev side) is done, as the Handy 2 isn’t out yet we don’t know if they’ve done this yet…however they’ve had problems with each API version after the Handy 1’s launch I believe. I think the only connection problems I’ve had with my SR6 is two at most and when I was still getting to grips with it but was solved via turning off and on again which due to MFP there’s no need to re-upload the script nor reconnect.
Twist or other axis is the reason you go for SSR1/OSR2/SR6 for me the twist added that thing which after I mimicked it with my hand I just knew I wanted it. I did do the other axis too but it was the twist that did it. Try doing it yourself to see if it’s really what you want.
On the side of if a script will have an twist version to go with it, due to MFP you can have one to a degree as it has a motion provider setting that can have movement be random, pattern, custom repeating script you make or use a script you give it. It can also copy the up-down script too and as it allows you to blend it won’t be fully the same. You can also avoid it moving when nothing is going on via toggling an setting where it’s speed is locked to be the same as another axis. (so up-down for you)
Noise wise…I can’t say but I haven’t heard people complaining about noise being an problem anywhere near the same as the OSR2/SR6 has had. It does have less to clinky clunk around though on the OSR2/SR6 the Twist added a fair bit of noise to it…so if noise is a concern for you (via someone wondering what is going on) then look into it further.
Can’t help you with the tarrif stuff as that is too in motion it is impossible to stay up to date nor expect anything published to be actually true due to the situation. This can be mitigated via purchasing from an USA seller or if getting technical/tinkering ever becomes less of an concern you can make it yourself.
Hope this helps but in case you wanting more information about this all then I suggest you take a look at this topic which well… the title explains it but I talked plenty more there about the SR6 and things to consider: