This thread initially started off as being quite long winded. Realizing that it could be boiled down to pretty much a few questions, I decided to eliminate all the padding. If you want to know what it's about, then I'll elaborate.
What would be the concerns from a ground handling/takeoff/landing perspective with a conventional type landing gear setup where the tail wheel is fixed and instead the front wheels are steered? Also, what controls should they ideally be coupled to? I know the rudder is most common, but apparently some tricycle gear planes (including some big ones) have the nose wheel coupled to the yoke.
What would be the concerns from a ground handling/takeoff/landing perspective with a conventional type landing gear setup where the tail wheel is fixed and instead the front wheels are steered? Also, what controls should they ideally be coupled to? I know the rudder is most common, but apparently some tricycle gear planes (including some big ones) have the nose wheel coupled to the yoke.