RE: Ninja 500
Ah, Gary. Think back to the discussions on wing platform (Havoc).
The rules are what they are. I could drive a truck through them (and have) and they get modified every few years. It's been that way since I suggest using a "diamond shaped" rectangular fuselage back in 1980 on a design to Phil Busell and the rules were changed. When I used a laminated phenolic impregnated wood prop in Formula One, that got ruled out. Running a prop with one blade smaller got snuffed and it worked very well too. The wonderful wingspan restrictions were nearly put in place during the F1 days, when only I had it, because it blew all the existing airplanes into the weeds.
There are still many interesting things that can be done within todays rules that will raise the bar. Everyone sees the obvious, which is useful for hiding the subtle.