Why another French transition class would not fix the fleet

Would a Marceau-class transition between ironclads and pre-dreadnoughts have given France a better starting point?

Probably not; France needed continuous modern construction and supporting infrastructure more than another transitional design.

Another transitional class would not solve France's central naval problem. The fleet needed sustained pre-dreadnought and dreadnought construction together with docks, yards, and other infrastructure capable of supporting each new generation. Extra transition ships could consume time and money while a land-focused government postponed those investments. By the time the need became undeniable, existing facilities might already be obsolete.