Don't have a planer. Won't be sanding. Agree on future skill, but just
want strong joints now. A single 1"x10"x8' piece of pine at home depot is
the same price as an entire 48" x8' 5/8 mdf board. Nearly build a house.
Pine laminate twice that of pine laminate. Hmm, where to get poplar, not at
HD, right? Bet the price would compare with HD pine anyway... Maybe I'll
check outside the box and get back. In the mean time.

so,
is mdf ( dovetail, rabbet & dado, general, thickness) do-able?

OR

is a strong fast-machined joint (e.g. router bit) in either mdf or pine
laminate do-able?

& the other questions about the bottom and width.