To create a custom partition layout with LVM and LUKS for an Ubuntu 24.04 desktop installation, it appears I must first install Ubuntu on one disk, then manually partition a second disk, and finally rsync the installation to the second disk.

Am I missing something? There has to be a better way here.

The better way was use the more full-featured installer that 22.04 uses, then upgrade to 24.04.

I use the term ‘better’ pretty loosely here…