This has gotten off topic,
However often overlooked advantages of the longer rod are less side force because of the decreased angular loading, the piston has more dwell time closer to TDC which allows more pressure to build before decent, plus the longer rod is a longer lever which allows it to do more work with the same input.
I've considered a 6.125 or 6.25" rod 302 with a full roller and see what I can get out of it, run a single gapless ring so as not to worry about the short compression height and getting into the ring lands...