Charging system troubleshooting

Direct Connection used to advise using an electronic voltage regulator when using the electronic ignition.
At the time, all they could offer for not rewiring and changing to 'dual field' alternators was to use their blue regulator. Supposedly the problem was the switching noise in the mechanical regulator. But now there other electronic regulators for that control the feed. So now I don't know if there actually is an advantage to ground controlling regulation over feed controlling. Could be something more subtle - an electronics person may know or be able to figure out more.
The current VR on the car is a NAPA Echlin. Don't know if this makes a difference: the current VR has a smooth face; the two replacements I found (cheapo Chinese and an ACDelco) have a slight step-down on the face.