You really need to persevere and get the software sorted. Attempting to edit drum tracks in a hardware system will annoy you far more than the licensing system. You really do need to get up to speed with the computer systems because the hardware devices are just clever updated versions of very old technology with stacks of limitations and very little expandability. Cubase LE is quite capable. You need to get some help to sort the licensing, then move on. Cutting yourself off from modern production methods really limits you - especially when it comes to editing MIDI. In reality, MIDI is on external devices, just a recorder. You can do drop ins and other limited types of editing, but shifting a snare hit forwards or backwards is computer stuff now.
Have you bought the Scarlett second hand, and the licensing system won't let you authenticate? If so - then it could be simpler to just buy the cut down cubase package and get on the paid for ladder with software. I like Cubase - have done for years, through loads of upgrades. I bought an interface and got LE free with it - I stuck it on a second computer, but then tried to install on this mac, and that failed. Steinberg took a while, but sorted it for me.