I have a few very rough ideas for potential characters. Looking them over, though, it turns out I have a lot of DF-based ideas here. I may want to broaden my horizons to other options.

The first one is basically somebody making use of the Bomb Bomb Fruit for much more varied uses than just "snot explode lmao". At this stage, though, that conflicts with Kalas' idea, and to be frank, I'd much rather avoid putting myself in direct conflict for a character spot with specific others.

The second would be somebody starting off without a Devil Fruit, making use of their innate power instead, but then later on acquiring a DF power for themselves. My powergaming self would really quite like that to be the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Daibutsu, but it's been discussed already why that might be disagreeable, so perhaps it'd be best to avoid such a thing if I go with this.

A third option would be some form of Logia user. I like Logias conceptually, but you've already stated that those may be concerning too, which puts it in the same problem area as the Daibutsu, albeit without the delay of acquisition to help ameliorate power scaling concerns.

Or I could go in as King Louie the Giant, ousted from his position ruling over a nation after accidentally eating the Ape-Ape Fruit, Model: Gigantopithecus. The gimmick, you see, is being as ridiculously massive as giant-ly possible. That, however, seems like more of an NPC concept than anything else, and may make sailing around much more difficult as a result.

Lastly, I could just go with a Paramecia of some sort. The Arms-Arms Fruit isn't bad, or I could make use of somebody who can drill very effectively.

[@ProPro] Number 2. Doctor Virus seems pretty fun.