So we are on the same page for the most part here.

But for the dissolution of salt you still have the bonds or really lattice energy to overcome. The totally enthalpy is negative as you make most of the energy required to break the bond during solvation but it still requires that energy, i.e. it's endothermic. This is what I alluded to in the multiple reactions. Total enthalpy is the sum of the bond/ lattice energy + the sum of solvent-solvent attraction energy - the sum of the solute- solvent energy.

Maybe I'm missing something but you still use the standard bond enthalpy for this equation. I.e. the sum of all the reactions enthalpy. Curious on your thoughts here.

Edit: I will agree that bond strength is not especially representative to the common environments like aqueous one.