Have you ever considered a structured exchange like the CME and a switch to FX futures and options? https://www.cmegroup.com/trading/fx/options.html Bob
Yes, an IB universal account is a securities account regulated by the SEC and a commodities account regulated by the CFTC that is cross margined. You can be 100% long stocks and selling currency options on futures from the CME in one account. It is also a multi currency account so you could be long UK stocks and selling options on the CME.
I agree except for the term "cross margined". You can't offset ETFs with Futures and reduce margin. E.G. GC future vs GLD. You need to have both margin requirements.