Surface mount is doable with the right soldering work station, magnification, and steady hands. Plus, components treasure up a lot less space if you want to stockpile them.
Discussion
I've known guys who've done it once for the bragging rights, but think I'd get very frustrated, myself!
True re less space, but that's most relevant if you're going full post-apocalyptic tinkerer living and working out of a backpack, covered in scrim and one embroidered meme patch. :)
All my through-hole components would still fit in a large box.
True.
But it is still possible and I don't let the scale frighten me off. I do prefer through hole, but, laptops really are better suited to the smallest and most dense components you can work with.
I have some surface-mount fRAM ICs i have big plans for, but I chickened out and got tiny breakout pcbs for them :D
Very true re laptops, but that's a real tradeoff decision.
More repairable means less powerful, which means more work on the software side for equivalent functionality. Which is the way I'd jump, but others will have different priorities.
So, pics of your post-apocalyptic work backpack?
I'd never carry a soldering iron in my wandering pack. Less room for ammo, water, and air filters. Lol! I already know what I'd be carrying, pretty much. That's an area I've been studying and thinking about for a while.