I don't know exactly what you mean by "covering ground." Speed, or ability to do distances?

As I like to tell people, bents don't always have an aero advantage. Sure, racer-types like mine do, but a lot of the more common models have next to no advantage. For them, the ergonomics have more effect on speed than the reduced frontal area. I've found that people buying recumbents solely for the expected speed are usually disappointed. Either they get a model that doesn't have the speed capability they want, or they don't realize that speed is *never* free, even if the bike is labeled "fast."

In the comfort area, give me a seat over a saddle every time. There are some people, even here in the recumbent forums, who claim their uprights are perfectly comfortable for any distance; but my personal experience is totally at odds with that assertion. On one level, I can accept that they're telling the truth; but my brain cannot register the concept of a comfortable upright bike.