After 51 years of "normal" beekeeping, 14 years ago I gave away every shallow
super and deep box I had (over 500) and switched to ONE BOX, Medium
(Illinois).
I did it for JUST ONE REASON - I wanted a universal frame so I could move a
frame to any position in the colony I wanted.  I did this change on a 135
colonies, and wish I had been smart enough to start that way back in 1933 and
not gone through the suffering I went through for 51 years by not being able
to move a brood frame up into a super, or bring a super frame of honey down
into the brood chamber.
 
I use 3 medium bodies for brood chambers (The comb surface of 30 Illinois
frames =
101% of 20 deep frames.)  For reasons of nostalgia, I even put a "dummy" shim
of 1 1/2" on the bottom bar and then put 4 Basswood Square Section boxes in
place to make some square boxwood section honey for some of my ancient
friends.
 
It is nice to hear some young people getting "smart"!
 
Have a fine Holiday season!                                                             George Imirie