After considering my options, I've decided to continue trying to obtain a solution with 3.2mm ball chain. I've now modelled the front sprocket solution. I've spaced the front and back sprockets to be an integer spacing appart (I think 20 balls) and I've designed the front sprocket in such a way to ensure that the chain stays in the tube track throughout the length.

I'm somewhat hoping that I can use the pressure plate to tension the chain due to the deviation from a straight line from sprocket to sprocket.

This is what the printable mockup looks like:

[15:15] I printed the above and I knew something was suspicious when the Cura preview looked like this:

Those white squares are retractions. Essentially, those spikes have become all blobby when printed, so I knew I had to fix that and reprint. I also have to keep in mind that even professional SLS 3D printing a minimum wall thickness so I need to prevent the ends getting too thin. I've now added a special fillet to both sprockets:

Another thing I noticed is that the chain weakly caught onto the corners, so I've made the extrusion more cylindrical: