If I decide on a meds-free hair transplant without minox/fin, what key aspects should be considered in designing the transplant?

There should be no difference in your surgical planning if you choose or not choose to be on medications.  If you were told differently then it is at the discretion of your surgeon.  A good surgeon should be able to plan for surgery with the worst case scenario in mind.

Thank you for your great question.  Although it is difficult to give an adequate response without photos, generally, patients with Norwood 2/3 (ie. with fronto-temporal recessions) make good hair transplant candidates.  It is recommended to use some measure to slow down the progression of hair loss because you are at risk for losing more hair at your age.  With a conservative lowering of your hairline and a filling in of the fronto-temporal recessions, you should receive very natural results while considering future hair loss.  Always keep in mind that hair transplantation is a static procedure for a dynamic process.  A good hair transplant surgeon will always consider your future hair loss pattern and plan for this is his hairline and transplant design. 

I never heard of such a thing. Hair loss does not follow directions in most men, but some men who have clear patterns, may predict the hair loss. My job is always to minimize the hair loss not sit on the sidelines and watch the hair fall out. I transplanted young men in the early 1990s before Propecia was available and I watched the impact of progressive hair loss on those young men I transplanted. IT was tough for them and painful for me to watch. Now I have good controls with drugs like Propecia and years of experience knowing what to look for.

As for the recipient area and the distribution of the hair, It requires a bit of artistry in the part of the surgeon. However, in the hands of a skilled/ artistic hair transplant doctor, you can get the best result with the least number of units taken from the donor zone. A hair transplant specialist with experience should take in to account future hair loss and should plan the use of your transplanted hair accordingly.  It is always important to ask the number of grafts being transfers as well as the number of hair also the areas of distribution.  It is important to do your homework and chose an  hair transplant surgeon with many years of experience to make sure they take future hair loss into account in their planing. 

You pretty much answered your own question. A conservative height and shape of the hairline with tapering density toward the crown should look good for many years and would leave donor material  for fill in later on. Avoid a low,full juvenile hairline.