[Luftwaffel]

So, it doesn't help you for whole-car work, but something I do for oil changes or half-car work is I'll put the car into the garage, then put ramps at the entrance to the garage (still on flat surface) and drive up onto them. You have a lot of space this way even in a cramped garage.

As for all the other ideas, do what you want but it's your ass on the line, nobody else's. I dumped a Chevy Expressvan off of stands a few months back. First time I've ever had it happen, but it was because of a mix of an imperceptible incline and the e-brake not doing its job. Work safe!