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I think 1x makes it nicer when you’re riding technical / difficult trails - it’s just 2 thing less to think about with gears and also frees up room for a trigger style dropper post remote.
In terms of finicky I think the step to 12 speed from 11 speed does mean your mech setup is more important to get decent gear shifting. But I run 2 12 speed bikes (1 sram GX / 1 Shimano xt) and I tend to need to do very little with them to keep them shifting broadly well. I was riding in dreadful conditions yesterday - trails had turned into streams and there was mud everywhere. Bb was full of mud yet the chain stayed on at all times and the gears kept shifting well. Easy to clean the single chainring after.
On a 26” bike going with something like an 11 speed 11-46 cassette would get you a pretty decent low end gear. A lot of the Shimano 11 speed mechs will cover this - get the cheapest compatible one you can plus the cheapest 11 speed shifter. Get an 11 speed narrow wide ring with the appropriate bcd nw non boost ring to go on your middle ring position on your current crank.
Or go the Microsoft route suggested above.
I'm still running 2x9 on most of my bikes (26ers). I tried 1x11 on a 27.5er but got sick of spinning out on road and switched it to 2x11. I find a 26-36 on the front and 11-36 on the back gives enough range. I can ride most stuff in the big ring, but it's nice to have the granny ring when needed. I don't recall the last time I dropped a chain. I really don't see what's so difficult about using a front derailleur, I only shift it a couple of times per ride.
To the OP I would say - what do you think going to 1x will give you that you need?
Are you just trying to polish a turd (its a figure of speech - HL 5 spot is almost my fave bike ever).
1x really comes into its own on tech and nadgery stuff. The kind of riding where you're pedalling alot and looking for the best cadence it doesn't help with.
Wheel size aside, which is a credible, indisputable improvement for most (except for schralpers, specific case uses and fashionistas), the HL 5 spot was a pretty versatile machine. If its a typical mid naughties spec, I'd be putting a 140mm fork on, fatter tyres and wider rims - I used to run mine with stans mk1 flows and 2.4 inch tyres. (These days I'd run wider rims and 2.3s for tyre profile). I would also put 1x on it, but it would be microshift because of price.
For Teej, I wonder how many hits you would get if you did that search for 9 speed?
Transmission choice is choosing your compromises - I think 12 speed is a bit more fussy, cross chain angles are sub optimal and especially with SRAM its bastard expensive for the good stuff, but - it takes away 2 handed (2 brained?) shifting - especially in crux situations -retains chains wonderfully - which are all really useful attributes for the more tech side of riding and wears pretty well too.
Is this the right room for an argument?
Are CRC still doing the cheap NX 11-speed groupset?
Both times I've seen that offer (it works out about £180 by the time you factor in a new BB), I have considered swapping the 3x9 on my '10 Stumpjumper FSR.
Then I think "what's the point?" and decide not to bother.
I'd be swapping XT & XTR for SRAM NX and what I have generally just works. I don't have the strongest legs, so appreciate the 22/34 on proper hills and apart from looking smarter I am not sure it would really solve anything.