I agree that the random starting position created a big imbalance. But that was probably the idea in the first place, right? It depends if you want a balanced or imbalanced start.
Interesting ideas. Alternative A pretty much takes away the part where about-to-be-eliminated players need to decide how to go down (suicide big group or single stone). And it will be important to think about what happens after players are eliminated, and who will profit from it.