Hey Phil,
What's your background? What I need is a designer! As I was telling Phil L, the packages that I use are PATRAN preprocessor with NASTRAN as the solver. PATRAN will do so rudimentary geometric manipulation, but it's not a design package -- it's an analysis pre and post-processing package. I've mostly worked for large aerospace companies over the years (Boeing, Bell, Douglas back in the day, Lockheed and Triumph (formerly Vought)), and both fortunately and unfortunately there are consequences to that. One being that with a large company you end up being a specialist with a deep, but narrow skill-set. Currently I'm working on an expended assignment in South Korea (KF-X). If I can get the geometric data (electronic) then I can import it into an analysis package. Previously there was someone on the board who had passed that on to me, but I had a hard drive crash and so lost the data. At the time there seemed to be minimal interest in doing a DFEM of the Carbon Dragon, so I didn't pursue it at that time; but, I'd be willing to look into it again if there is interest.
The strut should result in a lower wing weight, but at increased drag. The wing section is pretty deep already, so I'm not sure it;s necessary to do a strut unless you MUST keep the weight to 155. Even in that case, what I'm thinking is an electric assist, which would allow you to bump the weight to 254 lb. and still stay in the ultralight category. The Archaeopteryx has a 42 lb (if I remember right) package that they can add to the basic craft that allows it to be self-launched. IMO this would make it particularly useful. With a similar package and a 200-220 lb pilot the gross could still be under 400-425lb, which I think should be manageable. If you keep the g-loading reasonable then it seems workable. Remember, as Phil L has noted you feel every bump with a Carbon Dragon (like fishing with a small graphite pole!) -- IMO it doesn't maybe make too much sense designing for extreme g-factors because those aren't the kind of days that you'd want to be flying a Carbon Dragon (you'd get your arse kicked!).
What I'm thinking is basically using the carbon dragon wing, modified, and a pod similar to the Archaeopteryx where you could put a electric assist or not.
Increasing the wing area: What I'm thinking is to not taper the wing right away, but maybe make the first 1/3 a Hershy bar before starting the taper. I like Phil L's 3- piece wing idea, and that would be a good place to start the taper (and attach a strut if you really were bent on that). I think the area goes from 140 to 150+ if you do that. Also, as long as the wing is stressed for the additional pilot wright and electric assist, then it will still fly well, but the wing loading might be just slightly higher, which in the end would still keep you well within the ability to use micro-lift.
I never did hear a final weight of Phil L's or Steve Arndt's Dragons, which would be helpful to know. I would also note that the more carbon parts you have the longer it will take...