If I am understanding your question correctly, you are asking: a) Why is the thrust line high relative to the vertical location of the CG? and b) Why is the horizontal stab mounted low relative to the vertical location of the CG? Is that right?

Right up front I will admit that I am not familiar with pattern competition rules and to what degree the rules drive the design. That being said I have some general observations. The first and foremost is that the predominance of similarity among designs in the pattern class, or any class for that matter, is driven at least in part by winning designs and the "If it isn't broke, don't fix it" ideology. What I mean by that is that if an airplane is winning in competition, there will be a good number of designs that follow that use similar proportions/layout. This can be seen in most areas of competition.

The second thought that comes to mind is related to the high placement of the thrust line. With the thrust line placed high, reductions in power will result in a nose-up pitching moment. Again, I do not know whether or not that has some benefit in pattern competition.

It is not much, but maybe a good starting off point for discussion of the topic.