I voted for the rear handle because of the fact that I dive in clear water. I need all the reach a gun can provide so sacraficing a few inches does not appeal to me.
Furthermore the gun is only a 90. If built correctly, which I have no doubt it will be (for there is probably hundreds of years of experience being accounted for in this build), the maneuverability of the gun should be like a hot knife through butter
There is no way this gun will look like your standard store-bought woody. Any similarity to an existing gun will only arise because that particular trait/design works well.
Just my thoughts...
