I am very much newcomer to subsim community and, with the great interest, I am still in process of learning historical aspect of North Atlantic struggle during the war.
To drop my 2c on this interesting question I would say, that taking over France early in the war and establishing naval bases with direct access to Atlantic in Normandy coast of France was strategically sufficient to make English Channel less important.
Also, I think, of some importance was possible "cooperation" or rather outright competition of top German military leaders (Georing vs. Doenitz) in influencing Hitler's decision how to conduct the war in most swift and efficient manner. Goering was practically 2nd in command then.
Believing, that Luftwaffe can conquer England was one of Hitler's gravest and resource wasteful mistakes, underestimating U-Boat (or naval force in general) was even more serious and more decisive military blunder.
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