> My question is this...am I crazy for wanting to be able to get in and out
> of this kayak WITHOUT sitting on the coaming doing a balancing act?

nope,not crazy. The only problem might be whether you wish to have your skirt match other boats, only guessing here but past 34" you may need a custom skirt. The balancing act occurs anyway whether you are going feet/knees/butt or feet/butt/knees or butt/feet/knees. Getting into a kayak from land or a dock requires balancing with paddle as outrigger and possibly bracing as you get everything settled. My first wood kayak was a patuxent and it does not have lots of footroom, with size 11 feet I could touch the deck with toes with feet pointing straight up, with your feet and the relatively narrow beam (don't know your bracing skills) and your height I would guess a bit of balancing will be going on regardless of cockpit coaming. Unless you've already purchased a kit you might consider the Northbay XL, same width and deck height(i think) but less weathercocking and a little more suited to your mass. hope this doesn't complicate things.