He had a propensity for crash gybes, and I felt it was in the best interest of any crew he sailed with.

He got one and apparently it worked quite well for him... or so the crew has told me.

They are not a set and forget kind of thing... you do have to adjust the tension and mind the lines. But that tiny bit of attention far surpasses the potential damage of a fast moving boom... especially a really heavy one, like a profurl boom.