The advice given to beginners obviously has to cover a wide range of talent so take it with a pinch of salt. To me the most important thing is understanding your own limitations and attitude. You come across as being a level headed kind of guy who is interested in staying safe so I think you would do fine on any of the bikes you mention.
I have been looking at the F650GS as my second bike and I have heard many people comment on how fast it is. For a beginner it could be too much but that all depends on the beginner and how much risk you want to take. Owlie’s comment on the sensitivity of the throttle is important. Even my 40hp scooter can throw you backwards if you are not prepared for it.
I’m glad you aced the MSF but don’t read too much into that. It is just toodling around in a parking lot after all. Learning to be safe on the road is a whole different set of skills to learn than brake/clutch/throttle control. But I’m sure you know that
Good luck with your search. Sounds like you have some very cool bikes lined up.