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Brunel had the right idea with the wider gauge IMO, the only reason that I can recall that they switched from the 7ft something gauge that Brunel chose is simply because the good ol' 4ft 8 1/2 inches was far more widespread and he was backed into that corner.
Brunel was a genious with mathamatics who was certain in his conviction this his gauge was optimum for ride comfort, speed and room for passengers and goods. And that's good enough for me, he was seldom wrong with any other calculation.
I reckon that 3 odd inches might make today's railways a totally different picture, but I guess we'll never know.
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