It looks like some strategic placing of the Buoux guide and photos of routes where you can see more than one bolt and I'm starting to turn things around.
Whether or not it ends up being the RPing trip I'd fancied (plus, I'll likely get shot down in flames, last time I was there I was four months into a road trip and it didn't feel easy!) or something broken up by a few bits and bobs here and there I don't know. Rocher du Midi and the Vercors region look good for a big route on the drive up or down.