Perry, when choosing length a lot depends on how you ski and how you will ski a certain ski. My experience with skis that I will most use offpiste and in fresh snow is that when I go too short, I have added maneuverability but the give up is a speed limit. In skiing steeps, in some biiger bowls etc, I really like to have a longer ski because I feel so much more comfortable going faster (that's also why I like a bit stiffer ski). But that is me. The real question is about you. If you never open up a ski (at higher speeds off psite) and if you will be skiing it a lot in trees and in tighter places, you will never notice the potential speed limit.
The rule of thumb is always about height and weight and of the two weight is more important. But there are guys that are 5 9" 160 lbs that rip so hard that they need stiff long skis. As well an intermediate skier that is 6 3" 230 lbs may be much better served with a shorter and softer ski.
As has been said so many times about choosing a ski, the same holds for choosing a length. Nothing is ever perfect, there are give ups in both directions. I always ask first, what will I use the ski for, how will I ski it, under what conditions, in what terrain and then I try to assess what the right length is for that ski based upon answering those questions about me. Unlike the common response on Epic where someone will say that ski is too short for you etc based upon weight and hieght, there really is no wrong answer. The two lengths will ski and feel different. The real question is how will you use them and in what conditions and terrain.
I have never skied with you, and maybe Jim has. But you can certainly answer the questions and then choosing the length should be much easier.
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