This question is mostly geared to the pro-mechanics here.
Are there any jobs that could be done without a lift, but you simply wouldn’t do if you didn’t have a car lift?
Rotate tires.
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When I was younger… none.
Now, I am having a new valve body installed in my Mustang because laying in ATF is nasty. Most anything else is OK.
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Look up “floor jack” in a dictionary.
Exhaust system work.
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What professional mechanic is NOT going to have access to a lift? I’ve never seen or heard of one. Even small 2 man garages have 1 or more lifts. I know several DIYers who have lifts in their home garage.
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as a pro, I don’t have access to a lift. My shop isn’t big enough for one. I get by pretty good. But, most of what I work on is already high enough off the ground for me to get under without lifting anything. 
When I first opened my shop, I didn’t have a lift.
But that didn’t stop me from taking on jobs that would have made it a lot easier with a lift.
And when you do enough of these jobs, you save up enough money to afford a lift.
You have to start somewhere before you can get to where you want to be.
Tester
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A retired one… lol
Up until about 2 years ago nothing, but my neurological disease and multiple other health issues has changed that… lol
A couple weeks ago my daughter, yes 21 year old daughter asked me if I would help her change her friends brakes, I off course said yes and it about killed me getting down on the ground looking for a place to put the jack and then a stand safely… I don’t think I can do that (getting down to place jack/stands) much anymore… lol…
Now I almost need a lift just to check air pressure… 
I really need a lift that will fit in my garage, but not sure if I want a 2 or 4 post…
There’s a tire shop I go out of my way to patronize for many years now because they are phenomenal. The first time I went there I thought what a rinky dink operation. They have 6 bays and no lifts. They do everything with roll around floor jacks. I almost got back in my car to leave when I saw that but so glad I didn’t. They are very fast with the hydraulic jacks but also very thorough and detail oriented.
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On long Island we had a tire shop just like that. they had about a dozen guys working on tires inside and out. it was always packed, but they would get it done pretty quick. On a weekend there would be a line around the block. I always made sure i went during the week. still packed but not like the weekend. And their prices were good too. mounting and balancing were free. Even if they added it to the price and said it was free it still would be cheaper than ordering from tirerack, having them shipped and then having them mounted and balanced.
Would something like this work? It might be too DIY for you and maybe not high enough since it only lifts 51 inches.
For the pro mechanics that may not be an option. Your hoist may be tied up with a pickup with rear axle out of it or otherwise can’t move. But you’ve got work to do and money to make. So you pull your Corolla into your flat stall and “flatback” a clutch replacement. If it’s a job your familiar with and have tools at hand, working on the ground isn’t all that bad.
Now there are some jobs that simply can’t be done without a hoist, like an engine/trans assy that needs to come out the bottom.
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Not true.
Did that job a few times without a hoist.
Tester
That must have been fun. How did you get a car body 3 feet off the ground to slide the engine out?
I’ve looked at those but no room to pull a RWD transmission if needed… I’d thought about a 4 post with wheels that could be rolled out to the driveway if I needed to lift something higher up or a taller vehicle… But a 2 post would be better if needing to pull a FWD trans… I have thought about a 2 post outside though…
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Gantry crane.
Put vehicle high in the air on jack stands.
Connect gantry crane to the engine/ transmission.
Unbolt engine/transmission cradle.
Lower engine/transmission onto roller platform
Use gantry crane to lift front of vehicle higher.
Roll engine/transmission out from under the vehicle.
Tester
Yes there is.
Us mid-rise lift guys know all the tricks when using one of these.
You see that bar on the left side of the image that runs across from saddle arm to saddle arm?
You cut that bar out leaving and inch stub on each side.
Then you find either a piece of steel channel or tube that will fit over the stubs.
The tube you’ll have to notch one wall out on each end so if fits over the stubs.
Now place the channel or tube over the stubs and drill two 1/2" holes horizontally thru both.
Bolt the channel or tube to the stubs with bolts, washers, and nuts.
So now when you want to remove a rear wheel drive tranny, unbolt the channel or tube from the stubs once the vehicle is in the air.
Tester
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I will defiantly keep that in mind… Looked at some like this also…