So first let me say I generally agree with you that voting machines are a bad idea, and that we absolutely need to maintain physical audit trails.
That said, I don't think it's in any way related. The people expressing the least confidence in the US' system of voting are railing against mail in and late cast votes, things that are done on paper. Electronic votes would give you a count instantly, and could be easily summed and tallied; it's any delay caused by counting paper ballots, or confirm from paper audit trails, that has led to a particular political party undermining the integrity of the elections. That's -with- "pick only your top choice". Ranked choice isn't going to change that equation.