I think bees just fill space.
they fill either a primarily vertical space or a primarily horizontal space irregardless.
They pretty much always start at the top of a void with a single 'central' comb and draw it vertically downward. Then, if there is space on either side of the first comb, they draw comb horizontal to that until there is no more space to fill horizontally and continue to draw the comb downwards on all combs until there is no more space left.
depending the shape and direction of the void they built the nest in, determines their movement and storing of resources. this then determines the direction they move in when in a winter situation and the cluster needs to move either upwards to stores above the area they are in or they move horizontally in the direction of the food that was stored in the combs to the side of the area they started the cluster in.
We have seen and observed plenty of situations where feral bees have been removed from both vertical nests in walls of buildings and in trees, etc and we have seen feral bees removed from horizontal locations such as roofs and ceilings and underneath eaves. JP has posted a great selection of videos with exactly these scenarios. All of them "naturally" selected by feral honey bees. They were not placed there by a beekeeper.
given this willingness to locate themselves in either vertical or horizontal nesting places, I don't think it is unreasonable for a beekeeper to find success with either type of beekeeper chosen hive.
It simply becomes more important for the beekeeper to learn methods and measures that will best support the colony in that environment.
This un-necessary "competition" between hive types and methods is kind of silly because there is no universal law of only one way of beekeeping. It's simple enough to decide if you like something and then do it. equally, if you don't agree with something, don't do it.
Why try to change others methods when you are free to choose your own?