TheBearded, I think you could pull this off. The Ficus cuttings shown on the link would indeed do just as well indoors in a window with a grow light on them. I fully understand the stolen plant thing, I have lost more plants that way that I care to count. If I were to do it I would use aquarium gravel or river rock as the weight would stabilize the plants root system holding the tree, and would allow it to drain freely. The fact that there is no wind inside to dry the soil would be offset by the indoor air conditioning and heating which dry out soil even faster. The constant fertlizer would be a bonus for your plants and most new soil mixes used these days are really Hydroponic any way. If you think about it all the inorganic mixes get the nutrients from the fertilizer as there is no dirt, so its a slightly altered form of hydroponics.
It would be easier to get some tropicals as they grow well indoors, the Scheffelera Arboricola as well as the Ficus work well, I had a Surinam Cherry years ago that would bloom and fruit indoors. After several years the trunk developed a covering of green moss from watering it, I moved it out doors to let the sun and air dry it out, and the second morning it had walked away.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.
ed