Ooh dear, can of worms time again!
I think the LB is what it is because it was designed that way, more or less from a clean sheet of paper relatively recently, and by someone who has seen the best that the industry has to offer and what sells kits.
The technology available to Craig when he sourced his components is leagues ahead of what was available when the Transformer was designed and the Corse for that matter too.
Development is the key in any successful product and we should note Craig has a policy of continual development too!

No doubt the Hawk has suffered from little development over the years. In my opinion this is down to lack of any effective competition.
There are some very nice aspects of the Hawk, snd some not so good ones.
But it's very buildable by anyone with the necessary passion and enthusiasm.
For very many of us the build process is the most enjoyable part. There are people on here who chrome plate the return springs of their over centre catches!
No criticism for that, but it illustrates the lengths that people will go to for build satisfaction. Hopefully they are looking forward to a satisfying driving experience too. In the end.
Their was some talk on the forums at the time LB was launched that it was a "brave move". I don't know if this was said through concern about dodgy economic times or if it was through over confidence in the Hawks position in the market. The truth is that the Stratos replica market was crying out for the LB, it's created its own demand and deserves every success coming it's way.
It's been said many times here that choices are personal. You Build what you want how you want it and nothing is truer
I may have been partisan in some of my own comments in the past but I've learnt on here that we all share the same passion and as far as I'm concerned any Stratos replica is a thing of beauty no matter whence it came or who built it!