I've been where you were at too. The problem is, no matter how good of a real day to day job I've done and what practical real world skills I've learned, "when the next opportunity comes around" as you say, I wasn't ready to take it - because I got burned by leetcode interviews that have nothing to do with the above.

I too, want to do everything you mention, but until I get past the leetcode gatekeepers, it doesn't matter.