On Sun, 17 Jan 2016 10:33:02 -0500, randy wrote:

So I will be building a new house this spring and am
looking at whether it is worth it to go with a
structured media enclosure or just mounting modem,
router, switches, voip box etc on a piece of 3/4
plywood on the basement wall.

Any thoughts?

Most of these consumer switches and routers are not intended for
vertical mounting but a shelf or two on that piece of plywood will do
the trick.
How many home runs are you planning? Is it enough to justify a patch
panel or would a couple of shallow boxes with 6 port keystone covers
do it?