Landing gear:

There is no real substitute for the ES gear. it's gone, so the point is irrelavent. they were the lightest and the strongest. They didn't look as good but they worked WELL. Currently all of the gears weigh about the same. About 4.5+ ounces. So pick your poison and save weight elsewhere. Unless someone has a better source they're holding out on?

They sweep back. And they do end up behind the LE of the wing. Even the most radical sweep doesn't sweep too far so it's fine.

-Mike