Hello,
Good furling is incremental, with a lot of contributing details. You've addressed a couple, but you might want to look at this
http://www.briontoss.com/education/a.../miscnov03.htm, a 'Fair Leads' from a while ago. Good tune, good leads, efficient blocks, ratchet/cam aft, tension on the line when furling, halyard restrainer aloft ó all these things will help.
And it sounds like you talked to the wrong person at Furlex. Try Scott Alexander for further suggestions.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss