POLLUTION, POLLUTION, pollution. Then we'll need to simulate the impact of lead on the nerve system of our characters.
Or not.
I suggest printed circuit boards with redstone. They take up only one block, but redstone components could be placed on them, making circuits more compact, and the redstone could be connected to it in 1, 2, 3 or all 4 directions.
And we could use your lead ore to solder the stuffz on it.