Been there, started scripting with PowerShell to have an after-setup-script to change reg entries, install tools (mostly through choco), run them (like dism++ cleanup and o&o shutup10 privacy tweaks) and migrate data from backups. Setting up and migrating took me usually 3-4h of work, sometimes more. With the scripts it’s just: Install Windows, update, reboot, update, reboot, run the script, reboot. Done. It’s like 30min of work.
Good thing I changed to linux, cause you can automate the whole process and preseed it into a debian image or kickstart rpm-based distros. It’s possible to do customized Windows images too. I have tried a lot of times. It never worked like it was supposed to.