You have no idea what you are talking about.... A front mounted engine does not help keep 50/50 weight distribution, there is a reason why some of the best cars in the world have mid mounted engines, its also the reason alot of front mounted engines have the gearbox in the back. Also displacement vs Power Does matter, its all about volumetric efficiency, something the old pushrod Chevy engine is pathetic at. Give me a 5L quad OHC V8 with a supercharger anyday.
Which the Corvette has..... The engine is front mounted with the transmission at the rear. Hence having the engine in the front helps with the balance of weight.....
It doesn't matter. At the end of the day, you can claim HP/liter all you want while you eat Corvette dust. If that makes you feel better when you lose against a 'Vette, go for it. The only areas HP/liter matters is in areas where displacement is taxed and in F1( where I believe there is a displacement limit, not 100% sure). But, as long as the engine is fuel efficient, good power band, etc it doesn't matter what the displacement is in the US and countries where there isn't some limits or tax.....
Don't get me wrong engines that produce a lot of HP per liter are impressive feats of engineering, but it isn't a factor of buying that car vs a car that has a lower HP/liter.
What? Automatics with floor shifters, yeah, but I've never seen a stick that worked like that. I'm not saying they don't exist, but I don't think they're common.
In a lot of sticks I have driven( which isn't a lot I admit), there is some mechanism.
See that ring right below the knob? You have to lift up on that in order to engage reverse gear.