Is there any other transmission that wounld be a better fit than the E4OD??

Is/was the goal to swap over to manual?
4x2 or 4x4?
Depending on casting numbers, bellhousing, some of the hardware from 98 may fit from the modular build. But you’d have to source out clutch and flywheel components. As well as address application pieces, mounting, and shaft differences.
E4OD was replaced with the 4R100 which shares build design, just re engineered and updated.
It’s posdible to upgrade to later 4R units with front pump changes, MPLS (range sensor, and solenoid pack swap. But in reality, both are robust units, and the gains aren’t that significant unless you have donor parts and costs are reduced.

If manual is the goal, sourcing out a discounted donor/wreck etc, can be a cost affective path for the needed parts.
If auto is fine, then generally an alike replacement ends up be the most labor and cost affective route. Sometimes a good used can be found for a good deal.. Key would be to find one that’s already been reman, maybe that the engine went south or was wrecked.