LPtex, you haven't told us what type of snow you like to ski on nor how your ski. Do you keep on groomers? Love getting into crud? Head for fresh snow even if it is an inch or a foot?
Do you like to ski fast or slow? Do you like to make many tight turns or a few big fast turns?
Ski length is a very inexact science. In general in any line of skis the longer ones are made stiffer for the biggest, fastest, stronger skier on the hill. Just the opposite for the slow or featherweight skier, the shorter skis are made softer. So, you're a big guy. That means fairly long or long skis in a given line. If you like to let'em rip, maybe the longest skis are what you'll end up liking. But you said that you don't like how they make you work for each turn. That's about your speed or technique. So consider the next-to-longest skis in an make/model line of skis. Don't get hung up on the specific length, look for that next-to-longest length.
About the snow...if you stay on groomers then narrower skis in the 70-something width have advantages. If you like to get into crud and thin fresh snow, then a ski in the 80s works very well. Check here for great ideas...
https://www.skitalk.com/forums/product-reviews.120/ski-selector . Look for "Testers' Choice" in any brand in any year in the width you think works best for you. The statement above about skis having a life of 50 to 100 days, well, that depends a lot on how hard the original skier hammered them on the hill. I try to get in about 30 ski days a year, and I've broken down only one pair of skis in all my years. I'm not a cliff jumper, I don't hammer moguls, and I mainly roll my skis on edge so they turn me in all snow conditions.
About your pricing...you're asking for decent skis & bindings at about the cost of just new bindings alone. Look for what you hope for, but be ready to pay more. Bindings can be moved to accommodate different length boots; don't demand demo bindings. The bindings need to have a DIN adjustment range that suits you...
https://www.powder7.com/ski-bindings-din-chart/sizing-guide and be fairly new. Older bindings won't get worked on; the binding makers indemnify the shops only for new bindings. And, for just 10 or 12 days a year consider the cost and baggage fees vs. continuing to rent good skis. By the way, many of hand-carry our boots into the plane. The airline can lose anything else, but we need
our boots. If yours have any looseness or any other things that aren't 100% great for you, find a good boot fitter at your destination and get them adjusted so they fit you as an exoskeleton, as close and comfy as a crab's shell.
