If you like the build your own/less heavy box lifting side of the TBH, you might consider a long hive. Think of a box that's wide enough and has a rabbet to hold standard frames (foundationless), but 4 feet long like a top hive. I think they're the best of both worlds.
...Except for portability, that is. If your vision of going full-time with beekeeping involves traveling for pollination, then yeah, I think langs with foundationless frames are the way to go. I love my long hive, but darn is it heavy and unwieldy!
I read a stat somewhere that suggested one person could work 100-150 hives with 40 hours a week.