Tor, here is my progression to my current setup. Probably not very enlightening, but here goes.
11 speed Shimano R7000 105 52/36 with 11-25.
Changed small ring to make it a 52/34 for about $10 to hopefully give my V20 enough to get over my most difficult climb. It barely was.
Changed RD and FD to SRAM Force 12-speed AXS, and bought a 12-speed Ultegra 11-30t cassette to use with my R7000 105 cranks to be able to get over what I believe will be my most difficult climb. I didn't think it would be enough, so I bought a 12-speed Ultegra 11/34 which should be enough. My short cage RD won't go bigger than an 11/34 cassette. I could be wrong but I believe SRAM Force AXS long cage RD will go up to an 11/36t.
The 52/36 wasn't tall enough and I was spinning out on the descents where I could occasionally get up to about 70kph, so I bought a 53t chainring for my R7000 cranks to make it a 53/36 for about $40. I have been looking for a 55t big ring, but they are not available for my R7000 105 cranks. I would have to jump to a Dura Ace crankset, which wouldn't be too expensive with an older model. However, I am virtually maxed out with the FD because the FD stalk on my V20 doesn't seem to be long enough to mount the FD with a 53t chain ring installed. I could go to a 1x with an older model Dura Ace 55t (inexpensive) for my usual rides to give me that extra speed on the small descent I have in mind when there is a HELLA tailwind, but in reality that is only a few times a year where it would occur.
So now I am running a 53/36 and an 11/34. My low speed balance issues on my V20 are essentially non-existent at anything lower than about 6kph which is what I would be capable of on "small/big" with my current setup, so I doubt I will be getting a long cage RD to give me an 11/36 capability because even if I was capable of keeping it upright at 3-4kph I'd most likely get off and push instead of wobbling off the shoulder and into traffic.
With all of that said, I could switch to the SRAM GRX AXS RD to give me access to I think a 10-50t SRAM cassette, but my wheels don't have SRAM drivers, so it would also likely require buying new wheels.