RO is definitely worth the investment, especially on the smaller scale. I'm still using propane and made 8 gallons this year in 4 days of boiling. You remove 2/3 to 3/4 of the water before you get started with heat. Save a ton of fuel and time.

Extreme heat may actually help with keeping it light. Check out https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2022/03/making-grade-color-flavor-maple-syrup for some info on the factors impacting color both in and out of the boilers control.