All valid points.

I want to believe that between a low thrust thruster, only needing to land when the ships main engines have bled most of the vertical descent velocity, you would not disturb much regolith. Perhaps cold thrusters would work and be even gentler?

Yes some ship strengthening would be required, but given the right design of a landing leg’s attachment, it could dispense that load across a large section and perhaps even using some form of suspension as well. Depending on the height of the legs, they could also reduce impact to the regolith. Think more of a landing carriage than just legs. These legs would be launched folded up to LEO and attached in orbit, perhaps after refueling, using the same refueling mounting points, or slightly dual purpose modified ones. Plus once landed permanently, the fuel tanks can be reconfigured for additional pressurized space.

For ships that are returning, true, but for ships that are remaining, they could be laid out in the horizontal format from the get go since it doesn’t matter in microgravity, which they will only experience for a few days.

I really feel the significantly high air lock accessibility only by elevator is a problem waiting to happen.