List button to start workflow

I can share what I have right now. Looking at the url belonging to the start form of the workflow, it is comprised of several portions:

1. The site url
2. a portion with layouts/NintexForms/InitiateWorkflow
3. an identifier for the list in question
4. The ID number (like ID= and then the number) of the list item
5. An identifier for the workflow that goes like TemplateID= and then a code

I can build the total url in a workflow using the Build String Action, and then put that in a hyperlink column, which works and gives me the result I want. But it leaves several downsides:

1. The need to add an extra workflow that triggers upon item creation, which always delays a bit before the hyperlink field is filled.
2. The workflow needs to be run again if I want to apply this in a broader way and carry on other fields from the list row in the url that might actually change (unlike the ID of the item)

With that in mind, I was hoping that JSON formatting the column instead of using a workflow would add this dynamic updating I am looking for, at the only cost that the ID column has to stay in view (which isn’t a big deal I think). I have tried this JSON code on a hyperlink column:

{
  "$schema": "https://developer.microsoft.com/json-schemas/sp/v2/column-formatting.schema.json",
  "elmType": "a",
  "attributes": {
    "href": "<site url here>_layouts/15/NintexForms/InitiateWorkflow.aspx?List={gibberish list identifier code here}&ID=[$ID]&TemplateID=gibberish identifier here",
    "target": "_blank"
  },
  "txtContent": "LinkText"
}

The issue I have is that it doesn’t pull the actual value of the item ID into the url, it just leaves it as [$ID] in the url itself (even though the ID column is in the view). Everything else does seem to work, like filling the display text. Anyone have some more experience with JSON that can figure out what I’m missing so that it recognises that I’m trying to reference another column there?

I do know that if it puts the number there instead of the [$ID] I get the correct link and I can reach the Start form for the workflow through it.

I’ve been trying to combine the url string like that as well, I’m starting to think that the issue is that Sharepoint can’t use the ID properly in calculations outside of flows. I wasn't sure if this applies to the JSON portion as well, but apparently it does. I tried a different approach, that is, using a calculated column with the entire link basically created in the calculations like a combined string, and then using JSON to hyperlink it. That worked for already existing items but left the ID reference empty for newly created items. I think I’m stuck with just creating it in a workflow that automatically runs on newly created items, and just re-running that workflow when a relevant column is edited to update the hyperlinks. It does leave users having to refresh the page after creating or editing an item to update the hyperlinks they get, but it might be the best option.