The hand done technique runs $18+/sq feet and the engineered is still $9+. Can this be done on-site in a diy manner, by the installer or even with a crew? Or, is it too sophisticated and complex?

Well, I have sandblasted my cabinets to refinish. Sandblasting creates the same effect. It takes out the soft part of the grain. I would advise not doing this inside the home.

Yeah, just rack it all out in the yard and have at it. A coarse steel wool pad under a buffer will drag out an awful lot of the soft wood.

I bought my sandblaster at sears. Its a hundred pounder. Not sure if they still sell them as this was two years ago. You will need a big compressor or you run out of air fast! Volume, think volume.