EvilWayz . . . . .
Awsome Cover!!!
I think you nailed it. Yours and Shemps are marketable but I really was liking yours. From my experience, anytime "Distribution" gets Finicky about nonsense like artist "proportion" (which I think you layed out well), it usually means there are uncertanties on "THERE" end. As it turns, they had another designer on it.
In other words, if they start giving you nonsense BS, then somethings usually up (no money, unsettled contracts, etc.)!