My plan was to "self-perform" a land contract by filling out a purchase and sales agreement for a land contract that specifies I will take over the mortgage payments, get authorized on their mortgage, and be authorized essentially to fix up the property and eventually sell it on the MLS since the land contract will give me that control/equitable interest.

You're def right that a wrap or AITD can offer more protection to the seller than a subject-to deal, especially in terms of maintaining control over the mortgage.

That seemed a little more hands off and easier to control if you will.

. :)  but my equity share is controlled via debt or direct ownership. 

So many things that are out of my control.  

Hiring a Property ManagerManaging Yourself:Control: You have direct control over tenant selection, maintenance decisions, and overall management style.Cost Savings: You save on property management fees, which can range from 8-12% of monthly rental income.Challenges: Being across the country means responding to emergencies or maintenance issues can be tough.

If its "expensive", you would want to have control over making sure it wasn't damaged or lost or you wouldn't consent to it being removed at all.

I know from experience that things will ALWAYS COME UP IN RENOVATIONS and it can honestly be hard to agree on the allocated time for some of these changes)- Plus many more items - it's easy to get out of control with contracts. 

She mentioned they would like to have their own website where they have full control and can list all their properties available and potentially have them booked through this site to avoid fees associated with other platforms such as airbnb.

I only see one person giving you the correct advice.Your focus should be on paying off the debt, controlling your finances, and building your credit.