Having said all that I would still take a rotary for durability reasons
even if the best BSFC it can do is .47. The new RX8 engine should better
that considerable.

Paul,

Please don't mistake me for a Lycoming-Continental lover.  I would love a rotary powered RV . . . just have to find the time.  I think you're right, for aircraft use, a lot of other desirable characteristics trump BSFC.  BTW, the airlines agree too, you don't see them flying with piston engines.

My only point in this whole, sordid BSFC affair (which actually started on the Velocity reflector and spilled over here) was that people should avoid unfairly dismissing Lycomings and Continentals based upon "Lycosaur" style paradigms.  They are simply one form of engineering compromise among many alternatives, and they should be selected (or not) for any given application based upon hard data, not prejudices.

Rick

I  agree with that Rick. If you just want to fly an experimental the 
air-cooled aircraft piston engine is the way to go in the smaller sizes.
Up in the IO-550 cat things look to be a bit too expensive and a three
rotor begins to look more attractive cost wise. When you get to the
TIO-550 cat you are looking at $50,000. A turbo three rotor then becomes
a real bargain.

Paul Lamar
 
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