I agree, education is important. Beekeeping by trial and error is frustrating, expensive, and heartbreaking.
That being said, there are more than one way to keep bees, and the wider your source of education, the better. Local clubs and classes are wonderful, if a bit biased towards traditional...
I live on 0.13 acres, with 5 hens and two hives, and have had no trouble at. During the day my hens range free in the yard, right up to my hives, and they just ignore them, and ignore the bees. My kids and dogs play in the backyard too, running and cavorting through clouds of fall foraging bees...