Hydroponics. So Many Methods! What Should I Choose?

I think this answer has a simple solution; work backwards.

1. Start from the plant or plants you want to grow.

2. Look through established literature on what method gives you the most success. Try to draw up a list of usable methods, I will explain why its important in a bit.

3. If you want to grow a mixture but only have resources for a single system, then pick a system that can grow all if not most of them but be prepared that some might not do as well, so if you have a few systems you can rank them in order of importance by which plant is most important.

4. Once you have a list of methods, you need to consider the space and materials required to set up said systems/methods. This physical constraint will whittle your choices down fairly quickly. So if you only have 1 method put cannot afford the space then you have to give up on the plant or do the hard work to come up with a new method (which really is the fun part of the entire hobby or field if you ask me).

5. Once you have settled on the method, you will need to understand the costing as this is often creeps up on you without knowing, not just the set-up and testing but also the long term running costs, these can include chemical fertilizers, utilities and eventual replacement of pumps etc.

Once you've got everything down pat including the finances to see this through, then you're really ready to start.

Usually the systems used are dependent on the plant's tolerance for water stress and proclivity to diseases from being damp. Which is very unfortunate for me that the standard temperature  and humidity of my country generally promotes fungal growth.