I guess this is overdue...I may have made some mention of it before but just in passing I think (but I can't remember yesterday so take that into account).
@ACE OF VAPE came on the board and told me that if I never show the pic again of the cord of my OG rheostat laced through a weighted cable management doofer and "tactical" rubber bands holding the dial in place, then he would send me one of the new ones in the wooden cube.
So, that's what happened and the new cord/rheostat checks off answers to all of my prior complaints.
The cord is very supple and no long yanks the rheostat around (or even off the table). I find no added weight is necessary to keep the temp control in place.
As for the temp control, it has some resistance that alleviates accidental movement. Where you put it, it pretty much stays.
Good improved device and well worth it (well, it would be worth it to me as it was free...but...I have not ever again posted that pic! haha)