Matt Pagan:
Before I get much further with this idea, is this project worth pursuing at all?
You should have a look at APAF: https://apaf.readthedocs.org/en/latest/
It is able to configure new hidden services through a web interface, but even better, it is meant to setup both a Hidden Service and a piece of software serving things at the same time.
Do you think this tool has potential to function as a point-click-publish hidden services software?
IMO, no. If we want “point-click-publish”, we need to have the publishing software configure Tor.
Unless you are a network administrator, you don't care about ports. You don't care about internal IP addresses. You just want to say: “I want to make a blog available”; and have the software reply: “Done, it's at: idnxcnkne4qt76tg.onion. Spread the address around.” I should not need to know anything else.