Either way, you are NOT in a TBD. That's the whole point; finding a proper substitute for the TBD, and the TBM is not suitable given its gross performance and survivability upgrade.
Right. The way I'm tilting my head at it though, the TBM is a TBD on steriods. It's better, no doubt, but they both share some classic American Navy plane traits. The Kate, aside from straight and level speed, climb, and guns (again, tallest midget) shares virtually no traits with the TBD except... it carries a torpedo.