For my two pence worth - I'll go for:
- Am undecided over the relative merits, so ordered both the Lysander and Bristol 148 - the latter could carry more of an offensive load, while the former was a better recon aircraft. This meant that when the 's*** hit the fan' no biplanes (e.g. Hectors in front-line service).
- With the P.13/36 spec for a twin-engine medium bomber, many of the designs were quite large for a twin-engine layout (later increased to four - Lancaster & Halifax), but the Bristol design was the smallest with a span of only 79 feet. With Government spending on the 'heavies' delayed the AM tried to get this one 'under the radar' as a medium Bomber replacement. So, not only OTL orders for the Whitey not actioned, but the Blenheim and Hampden were reduced.
The Bristol design (Buckfast) also utilized the original spec. of torpedo carrying, becoming a useful addition to Coastal Command having a better range than the Beufort although its activities were mainly nocturnal.
However, with both the Blenheim & 148 phased out attention was turned to a wide bodied Beaufighter, but tying the AM done to wanted they wanted was difficult but this time with Centaurus engines instead of Hercules. In part it competed with the Mosquito, but it was found easier to have mixed formations of Beufighters, Buckfasts and Buckinghams.
This also meant that the RAF took on less American DB-7 Bostons.