As you indicate yourself, the best answers regarding your question and current LEGO are already given in the other post. If you are not restricted by "current LEGO", I know of two more options:
- You might want to look at Nanoblocks which, while still a children's toy, has smaller bricks and a different color pallette. I don't know much about the quality of Nanoblocks - the plastic does seem cheaper than LEGO's.
- Another option is to look at Modulex, but you cannot find new sets as this line of LEGO bricks was only produced briefly from 1963 to 1965**. It was designed for adults (more specifically: for architects) as a system to build models of existing and planned buildings. Bricks are smaller, and have a different geometry (1:1 vs 5:6 for LEGO). Buying Modulex is expensive due to the limited production run and the fact that the last Modulex was produced 50 years ago. Bricklink does have Modulex items available for sale though, so you might find this something worth investigating further. There is a (not really updated) website for Modulex fans at MiniBricksMadness.
(source: minibricksmadness.com)
**) Modulex continued to be produced until the early 1980s in limited quantities by Modulex A/S, as per this article(PDF)