All,
I was reviewing this thread, and saw what I had missed before - Kilopi referring to a posting by Dr.Sawicki. Following that thread to its origin, I found a posting by JohnWitt, expressing precisely the "different orbits" point of view, though he spoils his pitch by mentioning centrifugal force!

John, are you out there? Or even Dr.Sawicki? Come and join us! It is good to know that there are others as well as Eroica and myself who see the Universe this way, and I would welcome more who can test the two points of view.
John