One thing in favour of the english is you have a set finger pattern for each chord and sometimes 2-note 'chords' are all that's needed as its the song thats the important element. Also just dropping one note by a semitone during a song phrase can be so effective. Seems to me that a Lachenal Engish is called for and keep the accompaniament simple. And you can turn up anywhere with a Lachenal and be taken seriously! For Lachenal also include Jones / Wallis and some others who made perfectly good instruments after leaving Lachenal.