The comp-tip would stop this problem, since there is no reef stop on the halyard cable. But, this is not a very good reason to go to the comp-tip however. The new mast head is generaly not thought to be a replacement for the older type. There was a post on this topic a couple of months back, I think. It seems like you would be able to grind down the bronze stop with a hand file to a smaller size that would not get stuck in the luff track.

I'm not sure about the older and smaller tang.(never owned or seen one) It would probably hold an extra person on the trap. Just make sure the rivets are good and replace any that might be loose.(Use liners for these rivets) It's not likely the old rivet holes in the mast would match up with the holes in the newer tang, if you decided to replace it, but again I can't be certain.