The Defiant P.94 as a missed naval aviation option

Could the Boulton Paul Defiant have been more useful if developed without the turret, especially for naval aviation?

The answer treats the P.94 as a plausible missed opportunity: a turretless, better-armed Defiant might have been useful in 1941 even if the original turret-fighter concept was weak.

An apparently flawed aircraft concept could still produce a useful derivative. The turretless Defiant P.94 promised heavier forward armament, competitive speed, a sturdier and more forgiving airframe, and better range than early Spitfires. Keeping a second crew member could also have supported radar operation in a night-fighter or naval role. The Air Ministry rejected the proposal because Spitfire and Hurricane production appeared sufficient and another fighter type would complicate production. That decision was especially consequential for the Fleet Air Arm, which still lacked a modern two-seat fighter in 1941.