I think Art Blakey would have been a good candidate to lead a BN date, instead of jsut being a sideman.
Really, though--I don't think you will find anyone that would counter yourCharles Tolliver suggestion, for all the reasons you listed, but foremost composition. I think he would have been on top of the list for me. The fact that his compositional skill were so strong make the selection of another candidate difficult. Since they did not lead their own dates [on BN at least] we do not know if their writing chops were strong or not.
After that, I keep thinking of the Sun Ra sidemen who appeear on BN dates: James Spaulding, John Gilmore, and Julian Priester. I think a septet with Tolliver, these three guys, and Joe Chambers, Herbie Lewis, and McCoy in the engine room. That would have been super. The only way to top it would be to make it an octet; add Charles Davis on bari.
Speaking of Charles Davis, I think he might have benefitted from more sideman work on the BN label. His solid playing makes "Illumination" by the Jimmy Garrison/Elvin Jones Sextet such a draw for me.