Issues Exporting SVGs and workflow

I have separated countries from a singular world map SVG into individual SVG assets.

Workflow:

1. Joined countries into groups using the shape builder tool
2. Deleted artifacts from shape builder tool and general cleanup.
3. Turn all grouped countries into compound paths
4. Separate each compound path into individual named layers at the root of the artboard
5. Export

Issues faced

• Shape builder doesn't automatically make compound paths, and instead groups multiple objects
• No easy tool to join simple touching SVGs without creating MANY artifacts 
• Exporting SVG using "asset export" nests even a single path in a <g> tag, but exporting individual artboards does not. 
• SVG ID and sometimes Group ID populate with "Layer_2" or "Layer_2-1", which do not exist in my Illustrator file.
• Classes are not assignable from export (Unless you use graphic styles)
• Graphic Style classes do not populate for inline styling
• Class names are not assignable (regardless)
• Can't group elements to easily toggle hidden/visible states, as it would add another group to the exported SVG

Looking for help to

• Export SVGs with class names
• Remove group tag from individual assets without creating new artboards for each
• Remove unnecessary IDs from each path and group, and fix incorrect IDs
• Get inline styling working

I'm sure there must be workarounds or hotkeys I'm unaware of, but splitting and bulk exporting SVGs in a vector-first platform seems absolutely unbearable. Browsing the discussions has shown a lot of unanswered questions, people recommending Python scripts, or that these issues were "fixed".

I saw a response around classes and IDs that mentioned "best practice" as to why assigning IDs is done. The current asset export lets you export 10 assets with the same ID as long as they have the same layer name (not best practice), but has less than the bare minimum functionality for class styling.

I'm definitely not the most knowledgeable with Illustrator, but this has left me confused and irate, which seems to be reflected in most SVG-related posts.

Also, tried to upload the Illustrator file, but it keeps being removed.