I spent a bunch of time creating an ESM that takes a bunch of plant/ingredient resources (nif and dds) files from other modders and turns them into usable flora, tree, and ingredients. The idea was that I would use this resource as a master to create mods that actually used them. Then I decided to pack it all into a BSA, and learned the hard way that an ESM won't access a BSA. You gotta create a dummy ESP for it to work.

But then I might as well as just make the ESM an ESP anyway, no? Would I still link to just the ESM with my other mod, or would I have to include the ESP as a master too? Making it an ESM makes sense, because of it being a master to other files, but the BSA problem kills it.

I am debating if I want to make it an ESP or do without a BSA now.

Obviously a total noob at this.

Don't use a BSA unless you absolutely have to.