I'm not saying they don't have focus groups and whatnot, what I'm saying is I bet extremely few people in those groups say they want a Defender anywhere near based on the Discovery 3 or 4 or the like.
In America, you will find very few regular LR buyers who will say that they actually want a Defender. Driving home, I saw numerous D3/ D4's, Freelanders, and RR's. Every single one of them was driven by some guy in a suit, windows completely rolled up and jabbering on his cell phone. Is that a Defenders market/ target buyer? I dont think so. Backcountry travel, farm work, hauling and towing and versatility are what they are built for and honestly, in America, a Ford, Dodge of Chevrolet can do that job much better for, what will be inevitably, less money. There just is no market here for a Defender anymore. The NAS models hit at the right time before cars became so technical and luxurious and appliances. Something like an NAS would never really fly anymore and definitely not at the prices that LR is going to have to sell the new Defender for to make it worthwhile.
As for the design for a ROW Defender, it will probably have IFS and solid rear axle arrangement. I dont see anything really wrong with that. For what a Defender is meant to do, IFS can do it just fine. No one will ever say that a Toyota front end is not strong or capable of withstanding abuse. It will still keep a solid frame for weight baring ability. A ROW Defender does not need to be as comfortable, technical or friendly as a USDM Defender will have to be.