Update. Actually I may have figured half the problem out…

Wordpress has a built in feature for this exact issue.

function remove_editor() {
remove_post_type_support(‘page’, ‘editor’);
}
add_action(‘admin_init’, ‘remove_editor’);

… This is almost a perfect solution however, now when I create a new page, the button is still there but the editor is not. So what I am left with is a blank space and I have to click the layout builder button for it to appear.

Anyone know of a way to make the builder default as the first choice?