I had a long conversation with a Me 262 pilot who was an Ace credited with 17 kills. He said two things of interest, they could get only two flights on the engines and the air time was about 55 minutes. Even so, they were a real threat.Many of the projected early versions of what became the Me 262 had engines mounted centrally in the wings rather than under slung. I don't think the fuselage was an option given the need for two engines, given the size of WW2 fighters generally, and a requirement for the armament to be in or close to the fuselage.
The early engines were so short lived and unreliable that having them fitted under the wings, almost as a modular power egg arrangement, may have been a significant operational bonus.
Cheers
Steve