Forgot to post updates here! So I ended up going with Lasergist for the top plate-- pretty much half the price of BBS (thanks to a GH recommendation on this one).
As for the layout, this is where I'm at right now:
Unfortunately I need QUITE a few miscellaneous caps to complete this layout so as soon as I can post in the classifieds I'll be asking for those.
For the bottom case I think I found a guy that is willing to cut it out of wood or acrylic for cheap! More to come on this later