steve
I've done all FWH and Whirlpool for an IPA before. I liked it - lots of hop flavor and aroma (dryhopped too though which is a different variable) but it did have a softer bitterness, and I like more bite in American style ales.
that said, i do FWH/Whirlpool only, using the bittering charge as FWH on a lot of my german lagers now and it lands me right exactly where I want to be.
i say try it and see what you think!