Pin-Layout - why the smaller gap?

I'd love to be able to whack my Arduino in a breadboard upside-down using some header pins

I have seen a pin kit or shield for that long time ago. - Hack: Fit an Arduino on a breadboard – Dangerous Prototypes -

You might check on - shieldlist.org - if there is a shieldversion of it

furthermore you might check this - http://arduino.cc/en/Main/Standalone -