I think it depends on the size of the coop and whether you need to maximize your roofed run space. I have a raised 8'x8' coop with an attached walk-in 6'x8' section. I much prefer the walk-in part for ease of use, cleaning etc. However, I live in an area with heavy snow and the raised coop gives my birds a bonus extra 64 sq feet of covered run space. So there's an 8'x16' roofed run plus the extra 8' under the coop, which makes for a substantial amount of extra rain-and-snow-free space. It's a pain, though, because although it's tall inside, the bottom chords of the trusses are about 3' up. I have to climb up into it and then crouch between the trusses when I go in to clean it, handle the birds etc, which isn't going to get any more fun as I get older! If it were long and narrow it really wouldn't be an issue.