I don't think it's worth it for all the reasons you mentioned. I just want to stress that no vias (actually you usually need at least a few and have to make the

I don't think it's worth it for all the reasons you mentioned. I just want to stress that no vias (actually you usually need at least a few and have to make them with a drill and clipped resistor leads) makes layout way more difficult, and no solder mask makes soldering much more difficult. Making the PCBs by cnc or etching has no path forward as you design more complex stuff, eventually you will reach a point where you have to order assembled boards and there isn't even viable hobbyist version of all the equipment pcb fab shops use.