imo ardour is a bit heavy as an audacity replacement, and I am a huge fan of ardour. I have been using ocenaudio with very good success and do think that it is a much closer "replacement"... with that said ardor is the best linux DAW!
that could be, it may help just to do some interviewing anyway. It is not the end of the world case you are not accepted, and it could spur some new thinking, or build some confidence in any case. Burnout is serious and not doing anything is worse than trying some things I think.
It is good to have a change. It can also be good on the paycheck to ladder a little bit. Every 2-4 years you should be looking for another job at a higher rate anyway imo. When you stay with a company they tend to abuse and increases come slowly. Starting a new job even if it is in the same carer path will freshen things up for a year or 2 and then it is time to repeat before you burn out again. I have even left a company to go back(for more money) with the results still being less burnout.