Do you want a rocket exclusively for high-power rocketry to use at HPR club launches? Or do you want a rocket you could also fly on G motors on your own, or at LPR launches?
There are a lot of rockets that straddle the line between MPR and HPR and can make for more flying opportunities if you don't have frequent access to HPR launches. My most flown rocket is my Aerotech G-Force. That rocket is designed for use with Aerotech Single-Use G motors but it flies great on H motors as well. I take it to every launch --- fly it on H motors at the HPR launches, and fly it on G motors at LPR launches, where it is usually the largest rocket on the field. Other rockets like this include the Estes Mega Der Red Max and LOC IV, and maybe the EZI-65 (but that might be getting heavy for some G motors).
I would second the the opinion of others that a nice cardboard and wood rocket in 4" diameter is a great choice as a first HPR rocket for a cert flight. It is like building a very big low-power rocket, just with larger and upgraded materials, like plywood centering rings and fins, metal eye bolts for anchoring your recovery harness, metal quick links for attaching recovery system, nylon or Kevlar recovery harness, metal or plastic screw-on motor retainers, rail buttons or guides. And you do get to try some new HPR building techniques, like through-the-wall fin mounting and internal fillets. It's a great way to learn some new things without changing too much. You can stick with mostly wood glue, or try some epoxy if you want.
You mentioned that some of your sims show one of the rockets you are looking at going too high for your comfort, and you asked about maybe adding weight or using electronics. Usually you don't want to get into adding weight to reduce altitude. It's one thing to build a little heavy with extra glue, big fillets, or other reinforcements and upgrades, if you are not concerned about making the rocket go as high as possible. But it's not usually a great idea to intentionally weight the rocket to reduce altitude. For one thing, it slows the speed of the rocket off the rail, so that limits the number of motors you can use. If you are concerned about altitude, it's probably better to go with a fatter rocket than a heavier one. That's why a 4" diameter rocket is a good choice --- the added drag of the 4" airframe will keep the flight low. Plus, if you've never had a 4" rocket, you will be amazed at how easy it makes things. You can actually fit your arm inside a 4" tube, so you can reach down inside the rocket during construction and for certain maintenance things, like removing and replacing the recovery harness.
You can also use electronics on high-altitude flights. You don't use them to limit the altitude of the flight. You use them to deploy the main chute at a lower altitude and reduce the recovery area. You won't have to walk as far or search as much to get the rocket back. To keep things super simple, I'd recommend the Jolly Logic Chute Release. That device is the easiest to use. You could fly your rocket to 1700 feet and have the motor eject the nose cone and recovery system at that altitude, that will slow the rocket down, but the chute will remain bundled up. The rocket will fall to 500 feet, or whatever altitude you pick, and then the Chute Release will release the chute. That keeps the walking and searching to a minimum.