I think Justanoldmuso has nailed the answer for saxgentleman67.

saxgentleman67: "I am strongly leaning toward creating tracks from scratch at this point.
EDIT: What I mean by composition is creating original music, working with melodic ideas in an improvisational free way."

Assuming statement is correct validates Justanoldmuso's comments to you. Here's why:

"I definitely understand that there's no one magic software." is incorrect if your goal is as stated above. There is one 'magic' software for creating tracks from scratch. There's only one, BIAB... BIAB is truly unique and different from any other music software for what it does. Create tracks from scratch.

Regarding audio recording, every DAW is the same, a digital audio recorder/mixer that emulates analog mixers and recorders. Every DAW's audio recording 'track' receives audio, saves it and allows post editing. No matter if it's one track, 8 tracks or unlimited tracks, every audio track is designed and functions the same. Regardless if a DAW is on a Mac, PC or is a hardware digital multi track recorder, they all have the same function. A DAW audio track does not generate a finished and complete, complete and logical musical audio clip. It receives audio from a different source meaning audio is recorded onto the track. BIAB tracks are virtual until audio is generated and rendered. BIAB creates logical, musical audio to whatever style, genre, feel, key and tempo it has received instructions to do. To date, I'm unaware of any software that does that task to the high level and complexity of BIAB. DAW's are for post audio conceived and composed audio editing and not creating.

Your musical desire as you've stated above is ideal for BIAB and you're in no need for any DAW at all for 'composition'. DAW's can certainly polish, edit, and make tracks more complex and better arrangements but that's different from what you've stated your goal is.

BIAB is capable of generating as many tracks with as many instruments as you're likely ever to construe for a complex and finished song idea.

BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.