Exit Ops Question

I’ve worked in m&a consulting after graduation this past spring for over half a year. I very badly want to break into IB - this just isn’t quite the same experience. Looking at opportunities and networking for them at EBs and MM coverage groups but it seems obviously extremely competitive. Considering some options at lesser known boutique shops - one of which is a biopharma specialized shop and it appears essentially all of their deal flow is ECM. Like mainly secondary offerings, minimal IPOs, a few PIPE. Maybe zero M&A and DCM no buyout PE portco sell side exits, etc. I am extremely interesting in private equity. I am pretty sure it’s what I want to do in 3-5 years. Does it make no sense to accept an offer at a boutique that doesn’t do anything other than ECM? I just worry that it’s simply too competitive for me to get into a well known firm coverage or m&a role given my unconventional path and the competitive nature. Do I go to the boutique for 2 years, become a coverage associate at a reputable bank for 1-3 years, then try PE? MBA? Would love to hear anyone’s thoughts and thanks in advance.