You're still using the 2005 sysadminning model of instances/hosts running services. Use elastic beanstalk or similar to pop up a layer of abstraction to "app". Your time is finite.
Is this alternative method another SaaS with a different API and performance characteristics? That takes time as well, in addition to the vendor lock-in. BTW, stacking abstraction x infinity is what causes systems to be bloated, unreliable security risks. Time spent gaining a greater understand of components on layers below the level of the stack you're operating on is time well spent, you'll be a better developer for it.
Is this alternative method another SaaS with a different API and performance characteristics? That takes time as well, in addition to the vendor lock-in. BTW, stacking abstraction x infinity is what causes systems to be bloated, unreliable security risks. Time spent gaining a greater understand of components on layers below the level of the stack you're operating on is time well spent, you'll be a better developer for it.