I'm a proponent of "around the walls" layouts. The two big items are better viewing and ease of access (both to the interior operating space and to derailed equipment). A lift out/bridge is much easier to deal with than an access hatch, especially when your knees give out as you age.
I used to be able to get up into the access hatches at AGHR with minimal effort. Now that I'm suing me knees for non-support I have to push up on something -- let alone the pain of crawling underneath the layout. Now we flagrantly abuse child labor laws and have the "AGHR Kids" to that kind of work.
