JakeArmstrong
I think this array of arrays is a common problem shared by many others in previous posts. Python handles it aptly but excel finds it challenging except with complicated maze of nested LET and other new excel 365 native functions recently introduced, as demonstrated above. I am reluctant to go on that path with a risk of being lost without solution but rather am interested in finding simple solution may it be with excel native functions or without them using workarounds like using Python UDF with xlwings as bridge.
Therefore, to keep it simple, speedy and understandable to me, I have moved on the hybrid path instead of an only-strictly-excel solution.
As for Regular Expressions, understandably as these excel functions been just introduced, they have yet to mature to Python's level (Not sure - maybe I am wrong but as demonstrated above, these work smoothly with Python as backend rather than without it in, at least in my case).