It would seem that a 40+ foot aluminum mast with a grounded bottom
just calls out for a wire from its top, parallel to it, down to a
deck-level feedpoint with a tuner.

Does anyone have any experience trying to do this? Was it any better
than the typical weakening of your backstay with insulators? (I have a
B&R rig, so I don't even have a backstay, anyway. With my very full
roach main, I don't think a copper pseudobackstay will fit, either.)

Fair winds
Al
s/v Persephone