I really don't mind everything standard except the brand, and the hidden tag, although I admit that I use 10-frame mediums, and I'm going to 2" x 8" material for the short (16 1/4") ends for two reasons. One reason is the finger box joints are VERY strong, the other reason is that the smile handles can be cut a bit deeper for my big, fat fingers.
I guess this thread suggests reason #3 - OK, so it's NON-standard and therefore more identifiable....but are you gonna go make pentagonal beehives so you can spot them a mile away? That might not be the most practical idea.
Most passive observers (ie., non-beekeepers) are not going to notice the difference between a standard Langstroth and a Dadant Extra-Deep. Many are still expecting to see a skep basket hive!
The National registry and state / county ID numbers - a standard code, perhaps (?) - and a website / hotline for stolen bee equipment (Brand you honey extractor, you flash heater, your pump, your decapping tank, etc., as well as your woodenware) is what's going to get stolen equipment returned. Maybe a bit slow, but something is better than nothing.
Now we have the National Bee Laboratory, The Eastern and Western Apiculture Societies, State Associations of Beekeeping Clubs, state troopers, state bee inspectors, et cetera - the structure is there, system could be up and running in a month if all the right people decided that stolen bee equipment $uc&$. A programmer with $$$ in his eyes could make it a smartphone app' and sell it to law enforcement agencies, or perhaps bee inspectors / agricultural commissioners, etc. MTINAZ could get his hives back in 3 months.
I'm sure the branding iron guys love me....hahaha