Firkin:
We'll have to agree to disagree. To me, the farting, shaking, and banging, not to mention that lovely sound of a Gipsy that only a big-pot long stroke engine can give, are all part of the magic of Chippying. To have a bland Lyc in there, sounding like any old spamcan, is abomonation! And who'd want hand swing a Lyc? Not me!
And Gipsys are not prone to carb ice - it's very rare due the carb being mounted next to the cylinders unlike a Conti which almost demands constant hot air to avoid icing.
And the looks! Oh the looks!!! Chippies are lovely looking aeroplanes. But Lyc engined ones are, umm, shall we say "not very pretty" ;~)
SSD