The high clew that you describe is typical of a
jib cut for cruising. Beyond the two issues mentioned above, for offshore cruising, a deck sweeper can be a serious problem when it comes to taking the full brunt of a wave over the bow and possible damaging the headstay or
furler.
Those of us who are more performance oriented, and spend the majority of our sailing time doing coastal cruising, typically get our
furler genoas cut more like the deck sweepers that you mention above. Essentially the foot of the genoa is cut with a lot of foot curve and leaves the foil nearly perpendicular to the forestay then sweeping up to the clew position.
In my opinion roller
furling, whether for mainsails or
jibs, has limited utility as a serious heavy weather tactic. Even with a padded luff, furled sails only retain an appropriate heavy sail when furled 15% or so and for short periods of time. When flown partially furled the leech slowly creeps towards the tack, powering up the sail just when a bladed sail is really needed.
I personally prefer to change sail to the appropriate sail for the conditions. My lighter condition sails are cut for a wide wind range, but focused on lighter air and more limited at the top end. My heavy weather sails are cut flatter than my larger genoas and with a slightly higher foot.
If you plan to go offshore with a
furler, it is helpful to add safety straps to the luff of the
jibs. Safety straps are strops that reach around the foil and hold the luff to the foil should the bolt rope pull out of the foil, or when the sail is being dropped. This should not slow the sail change since you have to go bald headed to make a sail change with a
furler anyway.
Jeff