Ok, let me see if I can compile all of this. This might be easy:
1. Get FloppyEmu
2. Buy it with the pre-installed disk images in it.
3. Stick the SD card from the floppy emu into one of your more modern macs (any of them that has an SD card reader)
4. Copy compatible disk images to the SD card.
5. Put them back into the Floppy Emu and use them.
For even more long term:
1. Also buy v5 SCSI2SD. Configure on modern Mac and install in SE.
2. Use FloppyEmu to start the computer. Use a disk image that has a version of Lido or HD SC Setup patched to format the SCSI2SD.
3. Use a system image on the Floppy Emu to start the machine and copy the System to the SCSI2SD.
Hopefully that will work well.