Why not have a base image instead?
That’s what I do, I think that’s what most people do.
You can use SysPrep to generalize a machine before you take an image (I don’t do this though, I keep an image per model), and include whatever drivers you need for all your models.
Custom software installations can be deployed per machine through Active Directory’s GPO software installation, or through a GPO based script for particular machines.
When I image a system, and FOG auto names, and auto joins to the domain, GPO takes care of a GREAT majority of software for me.
This class has this, that class has that… this person has that one weird thing… All done through GPO…
And, with a lot of older educational software, I can just put that software into a read only share folder, and have GPO create desktop shortcuts to it for the entire building to use.
My aim is to make my job as easy as possible, because I don’t have the time to sit at some machine installing a pile of custom software that it needs.
That’s just my two cents… Maybe re-examine how you’re doing things… Especially if you administer that Domain which you speak of.