In article ,
Steve Hix writes:
In article ,
(Peter Stickney) wrote:

It's a very clever design very highly optimized to do only one thing -
meet the X-Prize requirements.

Sounds very like Rutan's M.O. throughout his career.

Sure. And that's why he as often as not, succeeds. He specifies his
objectives very carefully, and doesn't deviate at all from them if he
can prevent it. And he knows his stuff, so his approaches to meet
that specification are sound.
Sometimew they don't catch on - the Beech/Raytheon Starship flew like
a dream, but sold like a Lead Blimp. But more often than not, he gets
it right. After all, it seems like Long-Ezes are buzzing around like
dragonflies, while the Moller Skycars fly only in the Press Release.

--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster