I recently purchase an uncompleted 360 MKII SFB with outback gear and extended engine mount.  The previous owner has closed the wings and added extra fuel bays with slosh valve per Lancair.  I now have the option of not installing the header tank.  I have the forward hinge canopy.  My original plans were to omit the header tank, build a bulkhead for the canopy attachment and utilize the extra space for battery and hydraulic pump placement.  As I understand the 360 with CG's fwd is less likely to have the pilot put himself into a pilot induced oscillation (PIO)in the flare.
Some have stated that the header fuel system is a simple system and would be easier to plumb for return fuel management, say in the case of the Delta Hawk engine.  Engine weight for the Delta Hawk is comparable to the Lycoming IO-360.
The manual refers to utilizing the header tank as forward ballast for CG purposes and setting the CG forward of the forward limit, thus the CG will move aft as the fuel is burned.

Any thought from the experts that have the header system and those that don't would be helpful.  A return system would require a duplex fuel valve the is costly, but I don't see that the header system is all that simple to fabricate as well, and what about those facet pumps?

Regards

John Kezele