would it be possible to design a system giving the best of both worlds

Sounds like you want to redesign the wheel. Before you do, if you live in any
sort of a community, take a notebook and do a survey of all the types of
existing systems you can find in tour area. Take these data to a competent
architectural/engineering firm and work with them to develop the plan you find
most suitable. You have to live with the system a long time so it's important
to get it right. The internet isn't going to be much help unless you find
someone who has solved the identical problem in the exact way you want it.
Whatever, good luck.

Joe

Joe