Similar to the approach in Numpalletes, I was thinking about how the function row could behave a bit like a touchbar or a streamdeck.
You can make something quite aesthetic with Keyboard Maestro palettes like this, that could change based on the current app, if you like.
One idea I had was to reveal an alternative macro group when the alt key is held. However, it seems that USB Device Key doesn't see a released message for modifier keys. Palette folders would probably be the way to go.
Try just the "Down" trigger, swap your palettes, "Pause Until" the modifier is released, swap the palettes back. Similar to:
My worry is that you're then triggering your alternative palette macros while the ⌥ key is down -- but I'm sure you've already thought of that
⌥
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