Nexus with Vortex isn't what I'd call a chore. Main difference is that you need to make a free account for Nexus. It has been working well for me.

Just make sure the mods you choose get frequent updates. There are comment sections on Nexus where people report bugs and will tell you if the mod is out of date. Try to stick with the more popular mods because those have a better chance of staying updated and getting fixed.