I think it is quite important what it has to be used for...
The last thing, when hydrofoiling, you would ever want, is an undesired release.
Whereas being able to release fast, is not important, as you ride maybe a 5 or 7 m2 kite in 13 knots of wind (just an example to show how low power we are talking about).
So the release ball in a long line is way too risky for me when hydrofoiling, has to be a lot smaller so no risk of accidental release.
The other issue with this release is, how difficult it is when you self launch with stake method in light wind.
Kite on its side, powered up so it dont go LE down again, and not so powered that it falls back on its TE with the following mess on a narrow beach , you have to be really quick to run to the QR and connect.
With a wichard you have to connect something to hold the tight line, as you need two hands to close the wichard while hooking it on, and when closed, you have to release the extra "thing" so to speak.
Very bad solution for this kind of time critical launching.
Yes, if you can just slide launch, no problems, but not possible in most spots, and does not work if you want to use a linecam.
And yes, if windy so the kite can stay on its side (like if you ride on a waveboard or TT), no problem.
But in light wind, not good
This is the very reason I have went back to a CL on most bars, as it is by far the fastest way to get a stake start into your hook quick and easy.
And yes, we almost always self launch, even when more kiters on the beach, as then we know we can always land no matter what the wind does, and we can go out again to the others on the water, after a stop.
Peter