I have raced tri for 13 or so years. I race long course and Iron distance. I've done all my races on road bikes with aero bar attachments. Currently, I do 90% of my training on a road bike without aero bars and it's much better for me. So naturally, I think your idea to go to a road bike is a great one.
I would try to get a bike fit first. I do bike fitting and coach triathlon. In my experience, severe saddle issues are often related to the reach on your bike being too long. Reach is affected most severely by top tube length and stem length but is also affected by seat tube angles, seat posts and saddle fore and aft position. So before buying, try to find out what top tube length would work best for you and use this to help choose the right frame. The other factors (except seat tube angle) can all be adjusted as needed when you find the right frame.
The other big factor in triathlon that seems to contribute to a lot of saddle issues is having a saddle that is too soft and/or a cut-away saddle that has broken down over time. My current favorite saddle is the WTB Deva, it's firm and flat which allows me to get the pressure on my sit bones, where it belongs, limits movement of the pelvis that you get with softer saddles and this in turn decreases chafing.
Your pedal stroke has a lot to do with saddle sores too. If you mash and rock your pelvis side to side while riding, you'll have a lot more saddle problems. Triathletes tend (not all of them of course) to mash and have poorer form in terms of pelvic stability while riding. So core strength and postural stability are also important.
Unfortunately, I don't know anything about Elite bikes and can't give you any input on that.
Hope that helps.