1.6 ratio rockers. Do they actually hurt the geometry??

Yes Fishy, in my experience with 1.6 ratio rockers on a LA headed engine that the pushrods actually sit a bit straighter due to the adjusters being moved slightly in toward the rocker shaft.

I think the complaints about geometry come from people with limited valve train set-up experience that find that the pushrods hit the heads. In my experience, custom pushrods are mandatory with 1.6 ratio rockers. I made a pushrod measuring tool, mocked up my engine with Crane 1.6 ratio rockers with the adjuster showing just 1.5 threads underneath the rocker (Cranes reccomended set up) and adjusted the tool for .040 lifter preload. I then measured the tool and ordered the correct pushrods. Presto, no pushrod interference problems.