Traditional track car blocks, (the taller ones) can lead to problems with the lead angle to your
winch if the coaming or
winch is not sufficiently higher than the deck track. Too flat a lead angle (should be at least 5 degrees below horizontal) can lead to overrides during tacking. The lower profile blocks can help but are often pricier.
Another reason for the lower wider blocks was a racer's trick to be able to run two sets of sheets for quicker sail changes - not a cruiser's requirement as a rule - but the wider sheave avoids some of the hangups that can occur due to a kinked sheet that can jam in the narrower blocks.