Good discussion on this thread- I've enjoyed and appreciated considering everyone's thoughts on this subject.
I imagine that one's locale and management/equipment decisions also play a role in early-season colony development.
I too employ 8-frame equipment with both top and bottom entrances and I tend to err to the side of caution regarding leaving sufficient winter stores and thus have overwintered in both 3 and 4 deep set-ups in a relatively mild location.
What I have found thus far in my specific locale is that all the colonies will promptly set-up shop in the top box of the stack at the first cold snap, and will stay there for the winter, only moving down as they exhaust stores in the top box.
I am uncertain whether this is a function of our climate, my management or a combination thereof, but what this means practically is that early brood rearing begins in the top box, which tends to then 'anchor' the nest higher in the stack.
As yet, I am not satisfied I have found a good management method for this situation, but it might ultimately lend itself to an early season 'reversal' of sorts wherein the top one or two boxes containing brood get moved down to the bottom of the stack such that empty comb for ultimate use as honey supers can be stacked above the nest in a conventional manner.