Summaries are presented of four conceptual design studies for linear magnetic fusion reactors with simplified blankets mainly consisting of liquid metal. These designs form an evolutionary sequence of increasing complexity. The first concept involves a high-density plasma thermally insulated by a magnetic field, but confined by direct contact with a structureless free-surface blanket of liquid metal. The second concept replaces the wall-confined plasma by a lower density magnetically confined field-reversed configuration translated into an axial cavity in a free-surface liquid-metal blanket. The third concept adds a simple cylindrical shell as a first wall. The fourth concept divides the liquid-metal blanket into two regions of differing axial flow speed. Each step in this sequence is motivated by some short-coming in the preceding design; however, the final design continues to appear attractive.