I've always been a fan of the Hotfoots (have owned 2 - hull #1 and #2 in various eras). May have been a bit on the pricey side at the time. Their main problem IMO was coming to market around 1981 - just as the local economy went into a huge recession. The same could possibly be said for Dash...
The "tall backer" couldn't have been Finn :D . I suspect he was short of cash as well as stature - although maybe he received a wad of cash from the insurer for the Riotous Assembly bonfire IDK.
I like the Dash and own one - but nowhere near 6'2" headroom. Maybe 5'10" or so at best - I"m 6'2"...