As to why create a design like that in the first place, I don't know. My understanding is that the 'engines under the wings' layout won because with the engines in the back the fuselage needs to be stronger (and thus heavier) to support the engines.

(Business jets tend to still have the engines in the back layout, because mounting the engines high allows shorter landing gear so that a stair that is part of the door is enough to board the plane, no need for an external stair. But that's not much of a consideration for a passenger plane operating out of airports with infrastructure available.)