couple of suggestions.
first the pick and place are really nothing more than CNC with a little vacuum
you can easily use a air brush compressor to get the vacuum. or a breathing ventilator.
you have the skills to make one. the programming for automated is the pain.
read up on toaster oven conversions.
then go to surface mount devices. all the soldering done at one time while you sit back and chain smoke.
the neat part about the toaster oven soldering is that the solder actually moves the chips onto the center of the pads.
will help you see the chips to move them around.
the hardest part will be not sneezing when you put it in the oven.
if you are making hundreds or thousands, get someone to do the boards for you.