The podded engine approach is useful for offsetting wing bending moment, however its a more complicated engineering task for the wing team. I think, overall, podded engines aren't going anywhere with the conventional tube and wing layout. What will be of interest is what's in those pods. I am an advocate of a central power generation system with electric fans, and I'd like to see where that could go. That might not necessarily preclude open rotor fans, since, they're potentially lighter than a nacelle/fan. Again, the problem is more about the acoustics than anything else as far as I'm aware.