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You should put your rack in public for people to be able to click through modules ;-)

-Clouds as main effects module. -> what do you mean by main effects module ? Don't get me wrong, Clouds is a fantastic module (I own a Beads), but I don't think it would be my first choice for a main effects module in a techno oriented rack. For me at least, techno means tempo-synced FX so depending on the available cash, I'd be looking at the NE effect module which can switch firmware, the FX Aid (XL or Pro probably), the Make Noise Mimeophon or the Intellijel Rain Maker, all useful for techno and also open to lots of experimentation. If you haven't already, get some play time with Clouds in VCV to make sure it's the right choice for you ;-)

-I'm thinking of also adding a Waveshaper like the Fold6 or maybe NE Pura Ruina. -> if you can build a kit, the Reverse Landfill Monotropa v3 is an interesting choice IMO, it's a great value module with again possibilities for experimentation outside of the obvious first use cases.

-I want to avoid "menu-diving" modules as much as possible, I know that PAM's and Ornament are great modules, but at the moment they are not among my goals. -> if there is one menu based multifunction module I'd recommend for a techno rack like yours, that's Pam's. You can send offsets to the CV inputs coming from a module with a better/larger interface for that, say an Intellijel Triplatt for example, attenuating (lol) the "playability issue" if necessary. I used to own a BIA and that thing loves synced modulation, I mean it eats modulation for breakfast, so my guess is you're going to need a lot of it :-) Pam's can definitely do the job, but if you're looking for playable interface, there's also the obvious Voltage Block (I suppose availability could be an issue), or Mimetic Digitalis from NE, Maestro from Acid Rain, etc. Depending on the type of modulation signal you're looking for, you could also look into synced-looping cv that is not synced waveforms or stepped cv, like the Flame C3 mk2 for example which records your unquantized knob turns but also offers a reset input to create repeating patterns.