Jim-Iowa

I seem to have no shortage if Ideas, but like most Idea Men some of mine get way out in left field. So I thought I would run a few by you all and a few questions.
First I am saving for a 2 1/4- 2 1/2 range router kit. Am Waffeling between the Bosch 1617 EVS kit and the Hitachi (sorry model # escapes me).
Since the table I have is a craftsman and inadequate I intend to build a minimaliist table. I like the Benchtop designs with a pedestal base.
Now I am thinking a simple box simular to the Bench Dog(but homemade).
First I am thinking about using no plate at all, just a hole in the top.
Which brings me to and idea, I like the idea of inserts sized to the bits.
And though I might just size the openinng to fit inserts?
Secondly no lift at all, What about mounting the top to a piano hinge and tilting the top for cutter changes?
Third with a 2 1/2 hp router, panel raiser bits might be a bit much.
Has anyone been using Verticle panel bits and how did they work?
Fourth the one thing I liked about my Craftsman Table is it has a clamp that runs along the fence and allows me to clamp rails vertically and cut tenons on the table. So I may get a bit extravagant and rig up a way to do that with the fence?

Any ideas suggestions or comments are welcome.