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So I've got a pin vise, a proxxon rotary tool (high end dremel equivalent) and a gakky power drill, and none of them will really do exactly what I want.

The proxxon's minimum speed is ~2k RPMs, which works if you're very very careful, but is still enough to melt plastic. The chuck on it is also a little small for the forstner bits that I've been using. Like this guy.
I've tried spade bits, they're usually available with a much smaller haft, but they also make a giant gnarly hole in the center, and the spike is usually a lot longer, which is usually a problem.

The pin vise is pretty ineffective at getting a wide bit, and obviously also has a tiny tiny little chuck. I often also have a pain getting the initial hole to sit in the right spot for doing bolter barrels and such. Drilling threw pewter with a pin vise is like pulling teeth.

Aaand the big-ass wood drill. The thing is huge, has no speed control at all, and is just unwieldly as all get out. It's got enough power to go through pewter without breaking a sweat, and is slow enough that I dont usually melt plastic if I'm using it - but I try not to do so if at all possible.

I've seen a few people recommend the tamiya hobby drill kit, which seems quite nice for drilling bolter barrels and such. I spoke with proxxon about getting a step-down transformer to just feed less power into my rotary tool to get it to slow down and they said without the speed it wouldnt be able to feed its air coolant well enough and would burn out, which is a shame, as that seemed like the best option.

I use ~1/4 to ~1/2 inch wide magnets for mounting dreadnought arms, vehicle turrets, etc, so they will hold in place without having to pin, and still have some motion if you want to pose them. It works quite well, once you have them in, but getting the holes drilled is a pain in the ass. I've also had some trouble getting flat bottomed holes for smaller wrist mounts, crisis suit weapons, and things of that nature, but I think that's largely because of melted plastic at the bottom of my drill holes.

Any recommendations?

I don't think the Tamiya handy drill will help as it also has a small chuck.

You could get a flexible jewellers shaft, as they tend to have larger chucks

Personally, I'd just use smaller magnets. Half inch is insane, N52 magnets at 1/8th inch or less will holy anything.

Drilling holes in the centre of barrels is easy, you just have to create a mark first - get a thumbtack and stab it in the centre, if you missed, stab again to get it right, then the drill will sit there and you have perfect barrels every time.

maybe not helpful, I do it by hand, mostly. I have used my dremel with up to a 1/4" bit, and I haven't had a lot of trouble. I always drill a pilot hole for larger magnets, sometimes stepping it up slowly til I get to the correct size drill bit. Maybe that's the difference. Or it could just be since my dremel is older it doesnt have the speed of the newer ones

I'm with guildenstern, just use your hands. Plastic is easy with just about any bit size using your hand if you start small and work your way up to the size you need. You can do it with the pewter figures as well, just takes longer and a bit more effort, but it can be done, its a soft metal. Otherwise use the wood drill for the metal, just have it in a vise, and just control the speed with the trigger pressure.

No matter what, will take time and patience so you don't destroy your figure.