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At this point I've pretty much given up on the CSM codex because the models I spent hours painting have bottom of the barrel rules to the point where I can't even win casual games. Out of the 20 or so games I've played this year, I haven't won a single one with my CC marines. Of course it may be that I'm a bad player, but I'd like to think I've been playing long enough to win a few games here and there. and I did when I used other units. But I don't want to use those units because I don't care for the CSM monobuild of cultists, Heldrakes, and Nurgle everywhere.

Additionally, our loyalist brethren have all kinds of awesome models that I might like to run, like Land Speeders, actually useful Land Raiders, attack bikes, drop pods, all kinds of goodies. What do CSM have? Defilers? Mutilators? PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT. The coolest models CSM have like Warp Talons aren't even worth a hot damn in the game.

So I'm thinking I should try running my CSM with the loyalist codex. One major thing I want to run is my Khornate CSM with chainswords/bolt pistols, who are my favorite troops. Just looking through the loyalist codex, the only marines that can have CCW/pistol loadout as troops are Crusader squads of Initiates, so it looks like I'll need to go with them unless there's a more effective option to use my Khorne dudes. Is this even close to a good idea? I know MEQ are supposed to suck this edition and everybody takes scouts, but I figure if I'm going to run MEQ, I'm better off doing it with the loyalist codex. But given my modeling requirements, is it even worth it for me to switch?

The only way back is at the end of Kharn's Axe

You will not be the first in doing so and will sure not be the last. Most the units are the same, just with better rules/costs. You will however get complains and whines from some players but, hey, if you get fun that will happen to you no matter what you do.

World Eaters or Khorne bands work fine with Wolves. I don´t think they fit with any other chapter trait. Wolves are supposed to be getting a new codex soon, so that´s good.

Some details / advices:
1: Please do not get sorcerers/runepriests no matter how good they are. Khorne do not like them and changing your codex to better play your khornate band and then taking sorcerers reeks of hypocrisy.
2: Many units you can find nowadays in the Wolves started like WE units, something you can point out is someone ask you. For example, the World Eaters have really good devastators called "The Teeth of Khorne". This unit eventually turned into "Long Fangs" (teeth -> fangs, ha ha so subtle).
3: Another example are Brazen Knights, eventually turned into Thunderwolf Cavalry. It is a good time to field this beauty:

4: Then you have Flesh Hounds, that were also part of the WE original list. They work well with Fenrisian Wolves rules.
5: Berserker surgeons (the most efficient apothecaries ever) are also known for the high rate of production of new low-level Astartes. Using forbidden protocols, they can create cheap berserkers with really serious mental issues. They run ahead of the army, and are used to detect enemy positions. Blood Claws are quite good to represent them.
6: You can use particularly violent-looking models as Wulfen.
7: Khornate bands are known for the extensive use of long range low AP artillery (yeah I know the Internet says they don´t). Get some whirlwinds if you want a fluffy list. Following the trend of units you don´t expect in a WE army yet are 100% background-friendly, take some apothecaries.

Something to think about: the Codex: CSM is not only reviled for its power level. It is mostly hated because it is an utter failure when trying to play one of the Legions. A World Eater or a Khornate warband should include high quality devastators (long fangs), brazen cavalry (thunderwolf cavalry), flesh hounds (fenrisian wolves) and whirwinds. It should include honor oaths (sagas) and cheap maniacs to spearhead the charges (Claws). You cannot do anything like that with the Codex: CSM. That´s reason enough to use another Codex.

On the other side, I don´t think any of the traits in the SM codex fits with khornate bands.... White Scars perhaps? I don´t see it.

Anyway, I speak just as a fluffy-player. Don´t let the fluff stoping you though, they are your models, play them the way you like. BUT if I were you I´d get a second hand copy of the 5th edition Codex: Space Wolves and start working. It will be hard, it is an old, "weak" Codex, but they will get a new, more powerful Codex soon. That will help you to do the change.

Exalted, great write up.

If you decide you want renegades (very different to cultists imo), being battle brothers with IG as wolves is good too.

If you are OK with FW rules, look into the Carcharodons.

Thanks for the suggestions, I will definitely look into SW and Carcharodons, although I never really realized how similar SW really are to WE, it makes pretty much perfect sense and will allow for some neat conversions.

Yeah, I bought the SW book simply to make a Khorne warband, then got bored. Lol. It's definitely the way to go. If you HAD to use the SM codex, using the BT trait would definitely be the best chapter. They also hate psykers, and flat out dont allow them, instead of the Rune Priest "we aren't REALLY psykers" line of bull gak. And that would open the options of grav weapons, but would lose you the wolves (ridden and foot). So definitely hit up SW and ally in some BT if you want anything from that chapter.