Kevin, I think you explained it very, very well. However, with a pole outfitted the same way on each end and with matching bridles for end-to-end jibes, the tendency for someone new to is to use it "upside down"...it seems more logical. This happened on my current boat with a new foredeck, and after he could not get the outboard end up and free of the rising (old) guy; we ended up with a ruined mast car. The pole mast end twisted and temporarily jammed in the car ring. He had sailed with me a few times and was a great person to sail with, before he moved away. The pole is always set with the jaws opening down now. We use trigger lock ends and attaching to the mast and "new" guy is not a poblem. In very light air, I would think either way is functionally not a problem, but jaw opening down would work best for me. Jaw opening up and I would probably get confused. I have a 30'' ULDB with an 800 sq. foot masthead
spinnaker. This sail is not very forgiving and demands good handling, but, oh, how we love to plane.