“Lengthen it, make it thin and fast,”
The broader beamed Arleigh-Burks are faster in actual combat than the older very narrow designs in everything but glass smooth seas. They have much better sea keeping characteristics. They also have more room and use less fuel for ships of similar size.
They are also bigger than a WW2 cruiser
Lastly, the helicopter is one of the most important weapons on the ship for anti-submarine warfare. A helicopter is also a radar platform to help detect and identify other vessels. It is also used to rescue downed pilots and transfer supplies and personnel. You don’t want to remove a helicopter from the ship.
Understood about the anti-sub tactics. But a small class (4-6?) of CLAAGs could make sense as part of a carrier centered force. Relatively less expensive. Freeing up destroyers for other roles.