Matt has done a lot of virtuals with Maples, having the branches either go up or up in a gentle arc. I think it is the idea you are getting at and I like it, too. It is certainly a more contemporary look, one of shaping in a more natural look instead of making deciduous trees look like formal or informal evergreens.
I have a great potential root over rock Hornbeam. I really studied Walter Pall's spring display here to get some ideas and not only does he tend to do as you but I noticed that on many of his trees he is leaving many small branches, sometimes two or three coming out of the same place on the larger branch, usually all wired to enhance the leaf placement. Certainly not your traditional branch 1, 2, 3, etc.
Now if somebody would just figure out how to turn a 1" trunk into a 3" trunk in one year...
