Like you, I too prefer the balance point to be somewhere forward of the entry pipe, and, for there to be wood under my hand. Poured pewter nose caps are great, but the metal tends to be cold, so I don't start them where they would naturally contact my fingers in a balanced 1-handed hold. Unfortunately, the natural position for entry pipes (about 10"-11" forward of the breech seems to be pretty standard) tends to put the entry pipe and tail right there under my hand. That kind of works out ok though, because the way your hand naturally holds things. More open toward the pinky finger than the index and middle fingers.
Though it's largely a matter of taste, my personal feeling is that a transition zone from an entry pipe area to wood and then a nose cap forward of that looks more graceful than when the lower fore stock is terminating right there at the entry pipe. To me, it looks sort of "blunt" or "blocky". I'm not saying it's "wrong". But, it's largely a matter of personal preference and taste.