^meh, most of the boats I race on have mains that lap the backstay and it isn't all that bad. It is just something you deal with. I found a trick with my boat was to allow the traveler to fall all the way down on a tack. The momentum will usually bring the batten through. Way faster than trying to smack the stay repeatedly getting it through.
A larger roach theoretically reduces drag by reducing the tip vortex. Lower drag would help balance the extra force on the rig. Runners would help though.
