I likes Spring Airs' old toggle switch. I never had any problems with it.
Ultra Precision makes a special control valve for Spring Air that adjusts the speed similar to the new Robart valve. I've got one on my 1/5 scale P-39 (see my gallery). I had problems with the long nose strut on the P-39 catching too much wind and had to take the cylinder off the nose unit and I added another spring inside. It still doesn't lock until it's on final and just about to touch down.

But I think your problem will be solved with the right control valve. When I get around to building my JMP Starfire, I'm thinking about letting the nose gear retract forward.