Wow, you've nailed it... I stumbled into the same issue after switching to hydroponics. My solution was to reintroduce a few fabric pots with good old potting mix for things like peppers and strawberries. They require more attention, but that's where the joy is for me... the daily check-ins, the watering by hand. The high-tech stuff handles the finicky herbs, and I get to keep that connection to the process.