This is really more of a quick suggestion for you to test than one of those super sound rates, but I noticed you didn't like machamp, so let me suggest to you a change that doesn't really actually change much. Why not try SD gallade in the lead spot? I know it sounds kinda gimmicky, but hear me out on this. By investing heavily in hp, you have enough bulk (especially special bulk) to carry a lum berry. With a set of swords dance, ice punch, close combat, and shadow sneak, you can basically do machamp's job. Ice punch+shadow sneak always kos aerodactyl and roserade, and cc always kos heatran (lol) while also taking less from fire blast than machamp (and also i once lived lo overheat but I'm not sure if that's guaranteed, i'll calc it and get back to you on that). Against bulkier leads, you can set up swords dance on them and proceed to ohko with +2 cc. Among these are machamp (against whom you fare very well, due to almost always outspeeding him, resisting dynamicpunch, having a lum berry, and being able to ohko with your +2 cc), metagross, and swampert (i think they have a chance to survive but still take HUGE dmg, i'll calc this one too and get back to ya). Hippowdon also takes huge damage and has no choice but to roar you out after taking 75%+ dmg (slack off ensures that he dies next turn to cc), and every single member of your team can do 25% to hippowdon off the bat, so he's essentially dead (and he's also a big threat to aero). the only lead you don't really beat any better is colbur azelf, as they run enough bulk to not be 2hkod by shadow sneak, but you don't do much better with machamp on that really so I don't see why it matters. gaining the ability to be absolutely fearsome to stall, as well as handily beating swampert, metagross, machamp, and stronger heatran, seems to me a good exchange for the confusion rate, which while threatening, is also unreliable. It may not be the huge revolutionary change you're looking for, but I think it's worth testing!
p.s. if you want you can run stone edge over ice punch. you still beat aerodactyl and roserade, so you basically exchange the ability to beat gliscor (as well as beating aero/roserade without getting -def) for the ability to do more dmg to bulky azelf (SE+shadow sneak > shadow sneak + shadow sneak) and the ability to really make gyarados think twice about switching in, not that he likes taking +1 ccs but stone edging him is better.
good luck with the team, and I love the concept by the way