Replacing stair steps

At the same time, I am looking for a Plan B to see if the steps can be treated (painted over?) in any way

Since I first know the value of such stairs, secondly that the trend for them is coming back, and thirdly the efforts involved in undoing modifications, my spontaneous first impulse was to recommend you the easily reversible solution of "wrapping." And only in the tread area, without having to go around the bolts. But stairs do well to be slip-resistant, and I don’t know any suitable films for that.

But I really also don’t know why in five years, when you are the prince with them, you would want to miss out on the "aahs and oohs" from your visitors, "yes, that roadrun87 was ahead of his time, he already had that in 2017." By the way, originally super hip only with exactly this railing.

Until then, the wrapping and removing it again won’t yet have been "paid off" by enjoyment in use, and the scrubbing until the glue is really completely gone won’t be quickly forgotten either.

Enjoy the great S-Class-level stairs, and don’t undervalue them just because they were "included."

As I said: just ask for fun what they would cost new today – that will sober you up.

It is truly divine what is happening here.

When the OP finds the stairs to be choking and doesn't want them, and everyone here comes with their opinion about trends and I don't know what...