This will restrict you a lot. For me it is easier to solder TQFP than using DIP chips, and you can use it on a breadboard with an adapter (cheap at eBay).
I agree; most of the parts I want to use these days only come in surface mount. So I just went all in and set myself up for it.
Here are some bad cellphone photos of what I was working on today:
Soldered only using a Hakko FX-888D with chisel tip, and solder wick:
Fresh out of the reflow oven, with more through-hole parts added manually:
The oven is great; it is a
ControLeo2 built on a
$32 toaster oven. Total cost was somewhere around $250 plus a few evenings of time. Some care when building it and it met the profile on the first learning cycle, and has worked without issue.
I also have a hot air station, etc. but again, it is possible to get started with just a basic soldering iron. In any case I think if one prepares well there is no reason to shy away from surface mount. Even if only to make boards to break out modules to DIP for breadboarding. But I usually just go straight to PCB and keep multiple projects up in the air so that the ~2 week turnaround doesn't get to me.