I'd be happy to help you!
Yes, I have the Book386, which has 8 MB DRAM and 40 Mhz processor.
My first computer was an 8 or 12 Mhz 286, but it is long-since sold! So the Book386 is the closest thing I could get.
DOSBox Staging is very new, and I can understand why many people wouldn't have adopted it yet. The reason I started using it is because a vintage enthusiast recommended it for its ability to self-configure to very compatible sound and graphics configs.
0.81 did not show certain graphics in Anzu Castle Gracula, but it was mostly fixed by 0.82. But there is still flickering with that game in both Staging and SVN, probably other DOSBox as well.
Seems that DOSBox was bugfixed for the OG DOS catalogue, and not modern retro.
I started using the 286 in 1989. Mine, fortunately, was VGA. Most of the games available for 286 were still CGA / EGA, though, so I suffered through CGA a bit. I remember those times well! Pharoah's Tomb was one of my first games, on a 5 1/4 floppy.
Your thoughts on limitations breeding creativity have a lot of support. I don't think we've really pushed CGA to its limits. There's the rarely-used 160px 16-colour mode, and the ability to change Colour 0 in the normal 4-colour palettes.
Look at this beautiful chart:
https://mastodon.social/@cyningstan/109326743745572940
I enjoyed trying the various graphics mode options for DOS games on startup, but it was years before I would see a SoundBlaster.
I haven't played around much with the Book386. Just tested in upon receiving it, and it seems to work. What's holding me back is trying to find a spare 4:3 monitor suitable for it. I'd want to display your games on something bigger than the 7" Book386 screen! But I'd be happy to accelerate things for you, and get this thing running with modern retro software. I have vintage peripherals for it, too!