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My brother and I had boxing gloves and headgear growing up (my dad didn't mind us fighting, but right about the time we got big enough to start damaging each other, he declared a 'no missing teeth and no broken bones' rule), and we actually used the gloves quite a bit, so range-finding and the effects of aggression/passivity are well-considered subjects to me (I've always liked to analyze things, probably more than I should). But most of what I know comes from high school wrestling.
Wrestling is about as pure of a form of combat as you can find.  Sure, there's no striking per se, but that almost makes it an even more ideal combat form for studying leverage, center-of-gravity and push/pull mechanics than any other sport.  Wrestling is built around the idea of taking on an opponent with nearly identical physical capabilities, and not only establishing dominant positions (which is usually where Judo ends), but well-and-truly breaking the opponent down until there is no question as to who the winner is via pin-fall.  I think that mentality, along with the outrageous work ethic instilled in every high school wrestler in the USA, is what makes wrestling the ideal base for pro MMA fighters.
Am not dismissing Judo, Aikido, BJJ or TKD whatsoever.  Have known judoka who I outweighed by fifty pounds who could make me look pretty silly in open grappling if I didn't take them absolutely seriously.  And as far as the one perfectly timed/ranged strike, it doesn't get better than TKD or Karate for that.
Have always enjoyed your Aiki-analysis on athletic motions.  I never really thought of things in those terms before reading your material.