hmm I don't quite agree with the CofG comments here.
The only reason why there is not spoken about it concerning the FW26 was the consternation about the front wing. True they gave very much attention to the aerodynamics, but still there are as many other engineers as last year that deal with the mechanical parts.
They have redesigned the cooling system, and I don't think they have forgotten about CofG.
Furthermore, there is not that much weight in the nose, especially not in the part that is exchanged when a front wing got broken. So the change of the nosetip is not that much of disadvantage I think. Their nose was already high with the FW25.
There is also a certain Adrian Newey, who explained about the MP4/19 that it has radically lower CofG (he said in as many words).
Also... note that the underside of the McLaren nose is quite high from the ground to, just 50 cm after the tip of it. Front suspension system is there, so not much difference there with the FW26.
To close... Newey is not the man to ignore the fact that engines will weigh more, and will try to compensate the disadvantage in weight distribution and CofG