Ring hitch strength reduction

[benz]

Sounds like you're doing a brummel and then bury splice with the Regatta? NE ropes website has directions for a tuck splice in Regatta braid (it's what I use exclusively on my boat as well) which is very easy to do, is short, and is secure.
There is no reason not to use a soft shackle to attach sheets to a jib clew--it'll be lower-profile than a ring hitch, and far easier to remove. I've not heard of a properly-made soft shackle ever flogging loose. If you're really concerned, you can also attach the sheet to the clew with a small lashing: 1/8" dyneema twine eye spliced to either loop (clew or sheet, doesn't matter), looped 'round and 'round, then finished off with a series of hitches. Lots of the fancy boats are using that now. Simple, reliable, what's not to love?
Ben