...so how come those fancy pants designers wrecking the current Star Wars vehicles cannot do stuff like this?
Your pod racer looks really good, is not derivative (but I immediately know what it's supposed to be), I can't spot any major kit part turned backwards/upside down, and it looks "right".
It's not at all like a hollow core door with one end stripped off, a Hemi scoop on top, and painted blue. Cough cough.
Well done!