Automation Question: Table of Contents List from Image Meta?

First, thanks for taking the time to read this. I am testing to see what my limits are in a particular project that I'm returning to. We have a tech manual that requires several ToC type lists of figures, charts, and tables linking to the pages each are located on. In the past we simply created a "figure title" type of paragraph style and used that for the include list when building the Table of Contents and lists.

This year, our client is building the graphic files from a database and will be including the figure title within the actual graphic. It may be an option to place the figure title within the file meta/file info  (Document Title) of the image when it is created. If the client can include such meta data, then I can use the InDesign Live Caption tool to create a figure title for each figure, then use the applied style on that Live Caption to then build my lists.

My question: is there a way to create a Table of Contents type of list using only the meta information from the placed image?

For example, InDesign can read the Document Title data on an image in order to create Live Captions. I wonder if there is a way to use that same Document Title data to bypass the Live Caption step and just build a list. I only see the option to use Paragraph Styles. Ideally, this could save a few steps in our development and possible 508 steps after the fact having less elements on the page layout.

Right now I have a few paths:

1. Basically do what we've been doing. I would need to crop each image to remove the figure title (or request the titles not be included in the image export) and create a styled figure title from which we can create a ToC figure list.
2. Another option is to use the document info (if client can include it into the image file) to create Live Captions for each figure making sure to run a Find and Replace to correct superscript items. From those styled captions, we can then build out the figure lists.
3. Finally, the last option is a mystical magic spell that may exist only in my dreams through which I can automate much of this.

Or are there other, more practical options that you use in your workflow? Work can sometimes turn into an island, and options that are obvious to some may not be to others.

Follow-up Question: In that formatting is stripped creating Live Captions, what would the best workflow be to correct sub and superscript text for figure titles other than a Find and Replace run?

Thanks for your time and thoughts,

- noel.