I know the Avro Manchester is regarded as one of the worst bombers of WW2, with most of the 200 built being lost to engine faults, until Beaverbrook with his rationalisation program forced Avros to build Halifaxes.
But surely the problem was the two Vulture engines required by the specification. If the Manchester had been converted to use four proven engines, Hercules or Merlins, maybe it could have become a competitor to the Halifax.
The Germans tried the same layout with their He177 with no success and were looking to convert to 4 reliable engines towards the war end.
I wonder how this would affect the bombing war?
OTL Harris was fired in Sep 1943 after 101 Halifaxes were lost over Berlin. The Halifax was thereafter used in a tactical role in support of D-Day only were air superiority could be guaranteed.