Any "academic" sets of Talmud; and help understanding the difference between the available Steinzsaltz editions?

Hi,

I have a Yeshiva background. Currently learning with the Hebrew “Mesifta” Gemarah & would like to try something more “academic”. In his comment on another post regarding Steinsaltz’s Talmud, u/joe_Q aptly described what I don’t quite like about the Talmud sets I’ve been using:

[They are] very “traditionalist” in that statements of the Gemara are taken at face value and not examined in their historical or linguistic context.

Koren Steinsaltz gives a more modern, “academic-scholarly” […] & clearly indicates how halacha is derived from particular sugyot, and gives background information on people and events mentioned in the text. Its translation is somewhat more terse.

Is there anything other than Steinsaltz on the market? I prefer Hebrew but English options would be appreciated as well. I have the “regular” Hebrew Steinsaltz that Koren sells. I like it, but there are a few things I think they can improve and I am interested if there are other options.

I am a big fan of R. Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg and would say I share his opinions about academic talmud study as well as his frustrations with the purely “inward” mode of study that the traditional editions employ.

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In regards to Steinsaltz:

Koren’s website offers 3 Steinsaltz editions.

1. The Steinsaltz Talmud, which I own.
2. The Koren Talmud, which as far as I can tell is exactly what I have, with no additions or omissions, but keeps the “trurat HaDaf” & puts all the “Steinsaltz material” on a separate page.
3. The Noe Edition, which appears to only be available in English and is in a format that, to me, seems to make sense only to people who would like to view the illustrations or wish to read the Talmud as a novel. (I know this is a but unfair of me.)

Did I understand the differences between the 3 editions correctly? Specifically:

1. Is there a Noe Hebrew edition?
2. Does the Noe also include the traditional tzurat hadaf (which I am not married to) or any other format where the Gemarah text can be read fluidly?
3. Other than the layouts, are there any differences between the “standard” Steinsaltz Talmud & the newer Koren Talmud?
   1. Although I am very keen on the idea of ditching the classical Daf layout, I very much dislike the original Steinsaltz layout and am not a fan of the newer Koren ArtScroll clone either, but perhaps that’s a discussion for the comments section if anyone is interested.

Thank you!