David. I must think about Gauss when I did see your pictures.

The geometry of the wing is very important, especially the shape and construction of the D-tube, not only for torsional stiffness, but also the shape of the surface of the first part of the airfoil. It has to do with the acceleration of the air along the surface in that three dimensional space over there. (edit ***)

For that reason it is not a good idea, making such big holes in the D tube, and if you have to, as example wheel wells!, we try the find a solution to distribute the forces around the hole and after the wheel is "in" cover the hole with a plate with the right three dimensional curve.

Shear webs are to withstand the shear forces and these are very strong, also in the (diagonal!)sheeting of the wing. That’s why they call these “shear webs” and we have to glue them careful in place, grain square on the ribs.
So using something else instead of shear webs isn’t a good idea, and who gives you the guarantee there isn’t one glue joint broken? I think you cannot fly one more nice looping with that wing after that!!

Not good idea? But, not wrong?

No, not good idea, but not wrong , but if you want to built really light you better can leaf it all away when using the right covering, you probably have a better shape of the airfoil on the nose. But I aware you for flutter!!
BTW the Taurus normally has no shear webs, the thick wing is torsional stiff as result of the silk covering anyway.
Cees


*** During flight the highest differential pressure we can measure over the sheeting and covering of first part of the wing / the D tube.