Hey, Tlynnc, I think part of the problem is simply definition. The hex is the basic shape of EPP. It just is, there are variants/other shapes and yes, you can break that down into other shapes/portions, especially triangles. But mostly by definition you get what you get, and that's hexes. Because of the typical size and seams and such, the hex quilts were generally not quilted to show that skill, but simply hold it together, sometimes as a "coverlet" or other term for having no batting.
Other terms bring other options -- for example, our "one block wonder" is just fussy cut triangles assembled into hexes or octagons. Here's one I did decades ago -- larger scale than Traditional EPP but people have been doing similar things with the traditional EPP (or, I constructed it as alternating "Stack and Whack" and "Spider Web" blocks) for far longer than that.
https://www.quiltingboard.com/member...14-621633.html
There have been many quit artists who work in hexes and bringing them up and down and in and out. Maybe try some searches on modern hexagon art quilts and I'll start looking for some good book recommendations. Ooo, was looking for a book but just "3D Quilting" as a general term starts bringing up the hexes!
But -- sometimes we get someone who comes with a new idea and vision that treats us to new ideas. Please share your work/ideas with us, you may be on to something others have missed!