Making prototypes with high speed SMD components
There are techniques that can be used for prototyping. If you're prototyping a whole system you're probably not doing it right- but to test smallish bits of analogish circuitry, it's practical. It's good to go to a PCB layout early, but not necessarily as the first step. 

Here's one hacked together circuit by a fellow I happen to know John Larkin- (he's since moved to gold-plated for the boards)



And another (the high-speed section is kept very small) 



This is done with shears, dental burrs etc. The ground planes under everything mean that the circuits are fairly quiet. You can also stack breakout boards for SMT chips on the ground planes (you can buy them or have your own made).