This makes it possible to virtually eliminate taxes for sophisticated investors.  

With that, (and regarding your Question #2) I think your expense line items and numbers will run very similar to what can be found in this BP blog: https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/3915/27972-analyzing-the-financials-of-a-self-storage-facilityYou'll have larger units, which typically means longer length of stay and lower turnover so your management/payroll expense could be lower.

Depreciation in real estate requires a little more sophisticated modeling, but it still works.

It had never occurred to me that one could be self-sustaining through one's own resources, mainly because I had never made an effort to understand money management, retirement, or finances in general.An MMM blog post led me to BiggerPockets, a forum where the members, sophisticated investors, referred to their properties as "doors."

Whereas, Don mentions are we talking home owner with zero sophistication or A deal between Don and Me  or Me and You..

An S-corp might help to mitigate the tax, but it should be weighed against the admin considerations of compliance (eg: payroll, reasonable comp, etc.)

Its a great strategy the most sophisticated investors use when the market dynamics changes.

Those guys don't come cheap (I have them on my payroll--I know from experience.

(This is often paid as a commission to the leasing agent.)For onsite, I usually see all expenses including the payroll for the onsite property manager, leasing agent, etc. and 3-5% of collected rents. 

I have clients who are more sophisticated and have some value of lot splits, surveys, etc but even when they bought it and split it off they don't really give much value to that. you have to put the power in you hands and negotiate with lenders.