Honestly I don't use LP MB and LP EQ because I have alternatives that I'm used to, but I disagree with the premise that it's "normal" for them to cause dropouts and pops/crackling when you use them at lower latencies, while the CPU meter doesn't show cause for that. Popping and crackling and dropouts can happen but on a modern, well tuned system with quality ASIO drivers a plugin shouldn't cause that at ANY latency unless the CPU meter is spiking too.

I can point to a number of linear phase EQs and multiband compressors that I use regularly which demonstrate nothing of the kind.

All that said, there is almost never a need or want for linear phase during the tracking stage.

 Even tho' RME is expensive they most likely pay for them self.  There are plenty of manufacturers out there that create doorstops.  RME still offers legacy support. My first real card was a Yamaha SW1000XG at $500.  If I knew more at the I could have bought a Hammerfall for the same price or less.     Still getting great mileage out of my AP2496.  I don't need super duper low latency anyway.

occide

Sanderxpander
I know this is going to sound unhelpful, but it really isn't. Occide, you have seemingly invested plenty in your computer with lots of RAM and a large SSD, you claim top notch performance, you "don't like limitations when you want to be creative", yet you want to spend the absolute minimum on an audio interface?
 
I don't see a happy solution here. You don't have to go with RME necessarily (though you will likely get great results), but it would definitely help you to not shop in the budget market if you want to improve the performance of your system.

Well, I'm usually not the kind of guy that buys cheap and then starts to cry. So your point is definitely helpful. But consider this please: What would you guys here, some make music for a living, think if a "noob" like me comes along, tells he's a hobbyist and then brags about his 700€ Motu?

 They do.  It's really not any different when someone who plays guitar and doesn't perform buys a Gibson, AM Fender, or PRS.
 

kitekrazy1
 Even tho' RME is expensive they most likely pay for them self.  There are plenty of manufacturers out there that create doorstops.  RME still offers legacy support. My first real card was a Yamaha SW1000XG at $500.  If I knew more at the I could have bought a Hammerfall for the same price or less.     Still getting great mileage out of my AP2496.  I don't need super duper low latency anyway.

That AP2496 offers pretty low round-trip latency.  
5ms total round-trip at a 64-sample ASIO buffer size 44.1k

Jim Roseberry

kitekrazy1
 Even tho' RME is expensive they most likely pay for them self.  There are plenty of manufacturers out there that create doorstops.  RME still offers legacy support. My first real card was a Yamaha SW1000XG at $500.  If I knew more at the I could have bought a Hammerfall for the same price or less.     Still getting great mileage out of my AP2496.  I don't need super duper low latency anyway.

That AP2496 offers pretty low round-trip latency.  
5ms total round-trip at a 64-sample ASIO buffer size 44.1k

 This and the Terratec EWX2496 where great budget cards in their day.