"So the question, as I understand it, from those "conventional" beekeepers who
are vilified by the "organic" beekeepers, is whether there are
actually sustainable
(meaning profitable) organic beekeeping enterprises out there."

I read the digest version of this list every day.   I don't see any
vilification of conventional beekeepers by organic beekeepers.  What I do
read on a regular basis is scoffing from mostly the same places whenever
somebody says their beekeeping works as far as they are concerned without
the use of nasty chemicals and hazmat suits.  A typical answer to any claim
made that doesn't agree with techniques identified as "conventional" is
"that can't be true because if it were there would be a study that proves
it is true."

Regardless of whether you think you need to use pesticides inside your
hives, basic business economics would suggest that if you are lighting up a
smoker and lifting boxes every working day, you are not likely to have a
business model that is "sustainable"  in the sense that you have created an
ongoing business that you could sell to a third party on the basis of its
profitably.  Our conventional beekeeping experts conceded as much recently.

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