I'll just say this: the Chiappa revolvers are hardly a gimmick. The concept is rock solid and it makes complete sense. It's an excellent concept that deserves to live, and deserves to rule the day in revolvers. Unless you can argue that have bore axis lowered by well over an INCH isn't really all that useful (!), then I find it hard to accept any argument that the concept isn't a very, very good one.
Now, execution. There are challenges to overcome, but to me they are almost completely limited to trigger. Chiappa may have biff'ed it when it comes to strength and their triggers may stink, but the first problem is easily solved, I think. THe second may be a real challenge of geometry.
It makes me go nuts to see what is a potentially huge leap forward in design--a no brainer, really--stifled by poor execution. Build the damn gun to tolerate total punishment, reap the reward. The idea that the gun should fire from the bottom of the wheel is like 'Duh'. It's a given. A no brainer. The idea is golden. Make it happen with the trigger of a Smith, admit technical superiority, and move on.