I've read some of the threads regarding having or not having a front suspension. For the purpose of this thread I'm talking about an XO lakester. I see the benefits of the rigidly mounted front axle (no suspension) but would have concerns about the increased loading from a complete lack of compliance and issues with stress concentration at the mounting points. Has anyone considered mounting a front axle on some high durometer rubber isolators. My thinking is that this would allow the absorption of some to the loads and vibration but limit movement of the axle to less than something like .25" It would be somewhere between a suspension and a rigid mount, or maybe a very high spring rate short travel suspension. There are different styles of isolators that could be used to change spring rate in different directions (fore-aft vs vertical). The isolators typically have some natural damping so I think it would bounce much.
Granted, it was independent, and operated through levers, but the original Mini Coopers used rubber cones with great success for 50 years.
As long as you can keep everything on the horizontal planes in check, all you'd really need would be what you're talking about, but the caution I have is this - Would the inspectors consider it a sprung suspension, which then requires shock absorbers on each wheel?
I think you could get by with it if you were to mount the axle with large diameter isolation bushings.