Most early service stations had pits. As lifts became more affordable, those stations with enough height in the bays, converted to lifts and installed lifts into the pits. Those without the height eventually moved or remodeled to accommodate the lifts.
I would never install a pit in a new structure. I might consider installing one in my existing garage to avoid the issues, entailed in raising the roof 8-ft. If I were to install a pit, I would design in a trolley and rail system along the edges, to allow removal of things like the transmission over the pit.
With a lift you can generally pull a transmission, transfer case, etc. and then raise the vehicle away. The shops which specialize in diesel pickups, frequently unbolt the cab from the frame and lift it away, so they can access teh engine and transmission more easily. When they are assembled in the factory, they drop the cab assembly onto the rolling chassis complete with engine. Which is why with the cab on, you need to be a space alien with an extra wrist between the normal one and the elbow, to access and turn fasteners.
on the cat!
