Yeah, I would move the top bar to the side as that is valuable real-estate for the news and I would also make the shifts instantaneous.

See here: https://tinkeri.ng (use enter key)

- note the layout-switcher top right

About full articles - this could be a toggle switch. Perhaps have an options panel somewhere. Allow for hiding of much of the content. Have a 'bare-bones' preset.

Thanks! I'll review this. I may add a compact-view that it's more 'bare-bones' and more like your proposals.