I'm not sure about removing the stripes. My masts have all be black anodizing and I haven't seen this problem on them.

For the wear under the forstay tang I have used some self adhesive plastic sheet. Usually clear, but whatever I could find laying around the shop at work. I don't know what the material is but is shouldn't really matter. I would think the more important part is how well the adhesive works. I changed mine at the beginning of every season.