Lots of potential for discussion here, good stuff.

 

I'm just curious how long it takes with and without variables, for example, something like the pic.

 

Why?  For whatever, I don't want to get into a debate about the merits of quad vs tri, I just want to know how long it takes, generally.

 

 "I don't think I'm any good at it, and am starting to think that maybe farming it out would be a good idea if I wanted to make anything commercially.

How long would it take you to retopo something like this, and would that include maintaining or restoring the UVs?"

 

This.