Thanks Graham - if you don't notice any noticeable difference to the performance or the pointing, then an exceptionally average sailor like me isn't going to. I can see that the self tacker has other advantages - like not having to find a way to work conventional sheets through a sprayhood. Is it possible to lead the self tacker sheet back to somewhere about midships for solo sailing?
I've yet to sail a BR or BRe - but I don't know I have much choice. I've examined all the 19'-23' alternatives I can find. For me (I sit the same height as someone 6'2" - 6'3") they all have some combination of the disadvantages of cramped cabins, heavy towing weight, slow sailing, too much string, slow rigging, non self draining cockpit, too much treewood (particularly in the masts), gaff rig (personal preference), inboard engines (big maintenance hike and eventual smell of diesel), small cockpits, or they won't take the ground flat. 26' and above are great as you can have headroom and heads, but for me, they're more maintenance complication and expense than I want for estuary and short inshore coastal day trips.
Any other views on jibs, or fully battened rig vs. gunter?
Max