My journey has been a bit similar, except i tried learning nylon String guitar first. I tried a few times, starting about 14 years ago, and it never took. One attempt 10 years ago lead to my then 12 year old son taking up guitar and never looking back.
I started drums when i was 12, and have been of and on again with that most of my life, but I wanted a melodic,harmonic instrument i could play and enjoy by myself. Drumming by oneself gets old pretty quickly, at least for me, and a convenient band is not always at hand.
So I took up the Uke in 2009, after searching youtube for "classical music ukulele". I have not given up on the Uke, and never will.
I have tried re starting my journey on guitar several times since i started Uke, but until this spring i never made much progress. I have tried alternate tunings, cut capos, and every way i could try to make it easier. Every attempt brought some value and benefit, but i always went back to uke for most of my playing. But I just love how the guitar sounds too, and i want to be able to play that, and not forsake the Uke. in fact, as I being to record my original songs, I will make use of both instruments. Along with some drums too.
You may find the string spacing and neck of the steel string easier than a Classical guitar, or the wider string spacing of the classical may feel more similar to the Uke. For me, a nylon string guitar with a narrower neck than a classical has proved best.
if you want to try guitar again from a Uke perspective, take a try at the Yamaha Guitalele, or the Cordoba Protege 1/4 size classical guitar.
I tried the Guitalele a few times during my Uke journey, and i never quite got it, but it was not the instrument. I may get one again soon, or the Protege. I was just not ready to commit to learning guitar yet.
Playing Uke has helped me get ready for guitar, but i did not start Uke as a pathway to the guitar,but it has kind of worked that way for me. maybe it will for you too!
Tom