Thanks all. Good thoughts.
As is the case with a lot of gear configuration issues there is no one answer for everyone.
But, after the feedback and some thought, I think putting the crotch strap on the outside will work best for me. The risk of accidentally losing the weight belt is real. In fact, I was diving years ago with a buddy whose belt buckle was pulled open by a strand of kelp. He went shooting to the surface- very bad. He didn't get DSC thankfully, probably because we had just started the dive and had pretty much 0 nitrogen built up.
Also, being non-DIR, my crotch strap has a nylon buckle quick release in front. If I really have to ditch the weight belt and it's hung up, then I can pop the quick release on the crotch strap.