Clarification on PCB Etching Techniques

Hi, I'm planning on making my first etched PCB because protoboarding it would become quite a mess. So while informing myself how to do it, and I do understand that, I've come across two different method of etching (it seems). One uses the approach of etching away all the copper except for the circuitry, the other just etches away a small space between the circuitry and the unused copper.

Example of Method 1:

Examples of Method 2:
http://makingandbreaking.com/?p=12

I know that it doesn't really matter what approach one takes, but are there some advantages over the other? Am I not understanding something? Why two different ones?

Etching away only minimal copper is quicker and requires less solution.
This is one reason to make ground plane cover as much area as possible.

CrossRoads:
This is one reason to make ground plane cover as much area as possible.

But by no means the only one. In general, the more shielding, the better - as long as the lands are actually connected to ground (or Vcc).

Etching is quite messy in itself. And there are some sources of error as well. For examle bad UV exponatinon. Films that are not totally black etc.

so here are some alternatives:

Download Fritzing - lets you design and order pcbs. And there are other suppiers that manufacture small numbers of pcbs from gerber files as well.

And i found myself using these quite often:

A third option is using a cnc mill to both mill away copper and drilling the holes in the same setup.

If you don't mind waiting a couple of weeks, then it's much easier (and probably cheaper) to design the PCB using Eagle and get it professionally made by Itead or one of the other Chinese suppliers. You will get a much better PCB too, including solder resist, silk screen, and plated-through holes.