Hey, I find 9-gapping painfully, too!
What I'm doing - or planning on doing - is grinding with a constant 5gap 'till 45, where I'll build up a bigger gap. It reaches 9gap @ lvl 54, where I'll grind until 60-61 then 0gap. When I hit 81 I'll build a gap again and farm some till cap raise.
If you're a STR build you can raise only your weapon+imbue trees and neglect buffs - with the possible expection of grasswalk. That way you need less SP/each lvl.
Less SP/level --> Less SP to earn till cap --> Less farming