Off the top of my head, I'd think that placing the reel in front of the grip would mean that you would then have to control all the weight of the rod, reel, and line through the strength of your wrist only, decreasing accuracy. With the reel behind, the weight of the reel works for you in controlling the cast.
A right emblem it may be, of the uncertain things of this world; that when men have sold them selves for them, they vanish into smoke. ~ William Bradford
I finally realized that Life is a metaphor for Fly Fishing.