perhaps this is where you are going wrong astrology is only loosely linked to astronomy. to me these are two separate modalities
Astronomy - the measurement of the stars
Astrology - the study of the relationship of the stars to human events
Hmm, I wonder if I could do the latter without measuring the stars first...
Whole signs. Use it, love it, live it.
If you don't at least like whole signs for one reason, then you haven't tried calculating all the dispositorships of planets even once. In every other house system, the primary ruler of a planet is the ruler of the sign on the house cusp and the secondary ruler is the ruler of the sign the planet is actually in, which is often different and a pain in the neck to bother with. There's also no way my Mercury and Venus are in the 12th. I talk too much and I made all of my avatars and signature pictures, at least by editing some other picture. I couldn't stop using Mercury or Venus if I tried. Plus I'm really ambitious because of Mars in the 10th. As much as I don't want to admit it, yes, my Sun is in the 2nd.
Edit:
Houses:
Moon in the 7th (Chaldean house) - I want my partner to be a nurturer so I can use my Mars in the 10th and not have to deal with that shtuff. I'm also really receptive (Moon) to the public (7th house) unlike most people who have no clue what's going on in the world at a given time.
Sun in the 2nd - I identify myself by my possessions (mostly accomplishments and talents,) not how I am/personality traits.
Mercury in the 1st (Joy) - I'm really intellectual and I talk a lot.
Venus in the 1st - I like arts and stuff. I make all my own graphics (with occasional editing of someone else's) such as avatars and signatures on this site.
Mars in the 10th (Chaldean house) - I'm really ambitious. My mom (MC = nurturer/usually mom, IC = breadwinner/usually dad) was uncompromising and quite assertive and bossy. People expect a lot of me and I expect a lot of me.
Jupiter in the 1st or 2nd (mostly 2nd but it's definitely on a cusp) - I expect to get a lot of money and I expect to work for it.
Saturn in the 4th (Joy) - Uncomfortable around family-relate junk. Even seeing a picture of a baby on TV, such as on a hospital commercial, often makes me feel weird but I don't show it.