Integrateds: Why do they all SUCK?

The OP has already answers his own, once again trolling, question. "Aside from a few very high end products", yes it's expensive to do all those things right. As with many things you get what you pay for.

A volume control is an attenuator pure and simple that is all. If you don't attenuate the volume you will have no speakers or eardrums left.

That looks like a pretty well balanced system to me. At the risk of having Schiit rained down on my I would say the Freya is indeed the weak link. So why not just upgrade the preamp? What makes you think you need an integrated? That looks like a pretty serious amp, some nice sources and good speakers. You're almost there. I would think keeping most of your current equipment and upgrading the preamp would also be cheaper in the long run then going integrated.  The simple fact you already own the amp means you don't need an amp. Good luck and keep posting like that polite and informative with no insults!