> So, two words - "Sticky Boards"...  the less hives you have, the better they should look to you.  Simple, repeatable inherently accurate results with no fiddling about required. 

I agree totally.  Simple, non invasive and educational.  Never hurts to study what falls from the cluster..  

Many folks don't test because washing bees means lifting boxes and/or pulling frames and also because they hate killing 300 young bees periodically and maybe the occasional queen.  

Many backyard beekeepers don't have the knack to do a quick wash like the pros do.  Pros have their tricks and what is routine and takes them five minutes or less can take a tyro hours.

When  the supers are on, getting to the brood area--the only meaningful place to sample--is difficult, and smoking and opening hives excessively, especially on a heavy flow day, can have a deleterious  effect as well.

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