Not so, I felt it with my own gut!

Another difference is in Charles' model you would have to travel at the speed of sound. Due to the shape not being a perfect line airflow will have to be supersonic somewhere over the surface of the craft. That's generally not good for energy efficient travel. My "design" allows for the capsule traveling at subsonic speeds.

I suspect that design by gut is not necessarily a reliable approach to this.

Yea? Why do you think so? Did you look it up in a book? You should have felt it, with your gut! [1]

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBRKPoAPXEQ

and my gut tells me that's how our nervous system works... :)