I have heard of the stress as you say, but havent had an issue with mine yet. But others do echo your concerns. I have noticed the control seems to be better the farther back you go, though as you stated, there are other sacrafices when doing so.

I think the big issue here is he stated it wasnt steerable at all?
That needs to be addressed in rules some where.
He needs total control of that thing at all times.
That was pretty much my intention in my posting

I looked my rules for the warbird champ race, and darn it, in there, is nothing that states "steerable tail wheel". This is a concern for me at my race at least. Id hate to be the one getting hit by a plane on the ground who couldnt turn his away from mine.