More Connecting Rod Length Theory Questions

While I do take rod ratio into account if I'm thinking about cams, in terms of designing an engine package I like Smokey Yunick's view. I believe the way he put it is "I need a rod to connect the piston I want to the crank I want." Ratio is more of a result of choosing the right piston and stroke. If you're using rao ratio as an input to choosing an engine package rather than the other two, you're focuscing on the minutia and missing the big things.