My first tank of decent size was a 95 without any overflow.
I made it work with a HOB skimmer and a small HOB fuge, and everything did fine, but having actually done it I'm MUCH happier now to have a tank with a proper overflow drilled in and a sump underneath. The look of the DT is so much cleaner without the clutter. It also makes it easy to change or add filtration or top off water, or other stuff without disturbing critters or deal with the canopy or lights in the way.
And I can actually have my tank scooted back to the wall now instead of leaving a 6-8" gap which was really weird.