If one goes back to history I wonder if the person that initiated the requirement was an ex Bristol fighter man.
How can you be aggressive if you have to run away to bring the guns to bear? Even if you get into a position to win the fight the enemy can break off the fight at will. How can you be as good as the other fellow if your aeroplane is that much heavier with more drag than the enemy?
It was a flawed concept and should never have been considered for production.