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I know I suggested it earlier, but if you deepen the fuselage profile a bit you'll have more vertical space to accomidate both the payload and the hover engines/theoretical propellant tanks.
I am not sure. Depends on where you want to optimize. For sub-sonic glide, a bulge on top would work out and maybe even reduce drag. For high supersonic speeds, the shape would actually need to be much flatter and with sharper angles.
Both is possible for a space-plane. The first option would permit lower landing speeds, but have worse L/D and higher heating during reentry. A smaller profile would improve L/D at higher speeds, but result in higher landing speeds.
Yes, you can overengineer things. :lol:
It is really sad that there is no DG-style vessel that follows the area rule (like some fighters of the 1950s) or is a highly optimized wave rider. I have a design idea for a orbit-only XR style vessel, but that looks too much like a Starfury from Babylon 5. :rofl: