WELCOME BACK!!!!!
Can't really go wrong with anything and /SR. Getting SR to the sweet spot of 45% defense and 95% DDR is fairly easy. You won't need any defense bonuses from katana or broadsword. And those attacks' DPS isn't great anyway. They are better on resist armors IMO. Martial Arts has a better defense bonus attack if you wanna go super easy route. Also, MA doesn't have any special mechanics either.
I have a ton of /SR scraps and one SR/ tank. I want a /SR brute, and have tried several, but nothing has done it for me. I only have 1 brute I actually still have that hasn't been deleted.
My main is savage/inv scrap. Savage is a ton of fun. It's mechanics aren't really too complicated really and can ignore them if you want. I don't, but I like Hemorrhage and a lot don't.
I would suggest spines/sr. I may try it myself soon. Spines has no combo/mechanic stuff. It is a little end heavy when you take the damage aura, but SR isn't. Can always skip the aura until end is fine. Spines can't be ignored visually though.
End issues are mostly solved nowadays with the procs in health and stamina. And want to make sure attacks have end reduction slotted. Brute body mastery is awesome as can have 3 performance shifter procs and 3 power transfer procs.