I think we tend to take the whole Classic (and OTS!) classes way to seriously. They are intended for us to fly planes that we saw in our youth and to have fun. We all know that planes DO get changed, even people did it during the period! As long as it isn't an Impact being passed off as a JD Falcon, I don't much care.
As I love the Classic event, and have flown in in several areas of the country, I have not really noticed a lot of *cheating* going on by anyone. Nothing that was obvious! Anyway, I can show up with three different ARES, and they are ALL with in a pencil line of the originals, yet all three are different and 100% LEGAL!
Are we seriously going to "frown upon" a contestant who shows up with a Classic plane and he's shortened the nose an inch because the engine is too heavy?
As for me, I have seen pictures of a couple Spacehounds that have been flown which were NOT *really* close to the actual plane, nor either of the two sets of plans that I know exist for it. No one has said a word! I probably wouldn't know either except I spent two years finding references of the actual model 10 years ago! (which was a LOT of fun!)
It doesn't bother me, though......