kd7rdzi2,
I tried to ignore this thread, as it's been beaten to death over the years....but, thought maybe I could add something useful? (if not, at least I'll be brief)
Which radio, say among the last 20 of the list, would you think are still good radios? Considering also other aspects, like easy to mod/repair, audio quality (TX also), ergonomics other than performance?
1) Of course, "the list" is arranged by "close-in (2khz) receive IMD3", and this spec is important to a very very small percentage of hams (those into serious CW contesting, especially 160m CW contesting), and as such Rob's list is a nice place for them to analyze various radios.
And, for some hams to look / compare / and dream, etc...but other than that, it's not all that useful in choosing a radio.

You're asking about rig choice using other criteria (which is good), but asking specifically about radios at the bottom of a "list" arranged in a way that has little value to the "average" ham? Sorta' makes this a moot discussion, yes?
For many years now, I've made it clear that I eschew using the "list" as a way to choose your radio.
As has been discussed over and over again AND
mentioned / talked about by Rob Sherwood himself, there are many other factors that far outweigh this small spec! See this discussion here, with quotes from Rob himself.
Choosing a Rig and Sherwood's List
https://www.eham.net/community/smf/index.php/topic,128776.msg1194749.html#msg1194749So, I feel weird actually replying here.

But for fun alone, I'll have a quick stab at the premise (although, you do need to weed out some things here first....in order to get actual usable answers, such as only 5 of the bottom 20 are HF transceivers).
2) Only 5 of the "bottom 20" are HF transceivers....most of the "bottom 20" are SW receivers.
So, that limits you to just those 5 rigs as "answers". And, none of those 5 are great rigs.
But, while it ain't gonna' be a great rig to try on the CQWW contest weekend, if I had to pick one, the ole' Kenwood TS-520 would be my choice from that group, along with maybe the old Yaesu FT-101E, in a distant second place.
3) But, if you're asking about the "bottom 20 HF transceivers".....that opens it up quite a bit..
The "bottom 20 HF transceivers" run from the old Yaesu FT-757 all-the-way up to the FT-891....
And, this includes some well-respected rigs in their day, as well as a couple that are still well-thought-of and "competitive" even in our modern 21st Century.
And, if I had the time to go over all of those 20 rigs to determine which ones would be have best ergonomics, etc., that would actually get you some usable answers...
But, I just don't have the time to do that, right now.
So, I'll use the knowledge I have from using many of those rigs over the years, and/or looking at them and dreaming of them nostalgically from afar.
For nostalgia I'd pick the Signal One CX-11a for a home rig....and the ole' reliable Icom IC-735 for a back-up rig and/or a mobile/portable rig (I used one mobile for a while).
Those two rigs being in positions #2 and #3 "in the top 5" of those "bottom 20 transceivers" to hang-onto and use daily, along with the Yaesu FT-1000MP MarkV Field being in first place on the list.
(with the #4 position being the Kenwood TS-570s.....and the Drake TR-4C finishing in 5th place, again mainly for nostalgia).
So, here's my top 5, of the "bottom 20 HF transceivers" (they'll all work well and get you many contacts, should be fairly easy-to-use)
Yaesu FT-1000MP MarkV Field
Signal One CX-11a
Icom IC-735
Kenwood TS-570s
Drake TR-4C (just for nostalgia)
Then the next 5, all close together, and in no particular order. These will still get you contacts and be easy-to-use...
Icom IC-7000
Icom IC-751
Kenwood TS-870s
Yaesu FT-1000D
Kenwood TS-430
The problem with most of the above radios is they're all getting quite long-in-the-tooth and may need parts that are unobtainium, or difficult/expensive to repair....so, your criteria of easy to mod/repair might be be stretched a bit. hi hi
The rest of those "bottom 20", I wouldn't want in my ham shack, and most of them I would never wish to ever hear on-the-air again.
(and special mention to the worst of the worst.....the old FT-757, the FT-ONE, and the KWM-380....with the FT-2000 and FT-980 coming close to them in that group....yes, I know some hams "love" the '2000 or '980, although not as bad as the 'ONE or the '380, they suffer from the noisy synth malady and on-the-air, on SSB, they should be on 11m...)
4) If I had to pick "just one" from these, it would be the IC-735....it is easy-to-use / has good ergonomics, has good performance, is easy-to-use portable, mobile....and, big enough to be a good rig for your home station....it's pretty reliable, but still repairable...
Okay, I hope this meets your criteria?
73,
John, KA4WJA