Yep, the more I read the more convinced I am that it's going to be better going round the outside to the west.
In fact, using an old half mil we've got kicking around at Rimmer News it seems that the distance saved is only gonna be in the order of a few minutes (allowing for variation's in the Rimmerian thumb and routing) compared with the stress/ hassle factor for all concerned the answer appears clear well as clear as anything ever does to me
