Here is a little mood music:
So here is a choppy, crappy, most definitely terrible video of what I was doing tonight while getting schooled on lighting in another thread. If more than @Aqua Man want to see this stuff, I'll do a better job and take you thru the whole process from post harvest to cannabinoid crystals in jars...
www.thcfarmer.com
At one point or another, I have either done or seen everything you mention. the video above is in my basement.
There is a lot to think about. Short of something like a
magical butter machine, virtually all of these methods are not stand alone. In addition to the X, you also need Y and Z.
Example:
EtOH extraction - needs a deep freeze, probably a Buchner funnel and Vacuum pump, and what comes out is not decarbed so throw in a vacuum oven. You will need one of those ovens to make shatter or other things too if using BHO. Pretty much all processes use at least 1 secondary device to complete the end result.
CO2 is too big and expensive for home use (probably illegal to do at home depending on local laws, it is for me) and Butane is IMO not worth the dangers. But it does make an excellent solvent for cannabinoids. Just don't half ass it if you go that route.
I have a press, but I seldom use it any more. When I do it is to get thru a bunch of product quickly so I can get it in the short path distillation for making vape carts. It would not be my first purchase if I had it to do over again.
If you have a sharp eye, you will see a freeze drier there too. AWESOME for product prep. Necessary, no. But it is one of the most used devices I have.
I'm not sure where the "Alcohol is no good for smoking" came from, I would say that it is excellent with a dab rig. Maintains all
terpenes if done correctly, so you end up with a full spectrum dab. Again, when done properly it is essentially the essence of the plant with absolutely nothing potentially harmful ever introduced in the process.
I could go on for hours, but I have well over $50K invested in all this stuff. Without a budget to work with, pretty tough to get specific.