Options or Custom Fields - Products

-- HikaShop version -- : 2.3.5
-- Joomla version -- : 3.3.6
-- PHP version -- : 5.3.28

I've read and read but I guess I'm struggling a bit understanding what options I have here. I have a client who has kits that have several variations that need to be chosen from a drop down list. Now the variant/characteristic option is not a choice as it puts too much stress on the server. (they have 5 or more drop down options). I'm having a problem wrapping my mind around this so what can I do here?

I did create "products with variants" that do not show up on the front end and added them as options but this seems a bit silly and time consuming to me to be the only viable option.

Then I created custom fields but it seems they can only be added to entire categories and show up on every kit even though they are not an option on some products. This method seems viable but is there a way to display a custom field on certain product pages and not on others inside the same category?

If there is a better solution, I would appreciate some direction. Thanks.

Nevermind. Discovered the easiest solution was to create the custom fields, assign them to unpublished categories then add that extra unpublished category to the product.