Friend of mine (FT ski guide FWIW) was just talking about this with someone. He feels that it is better to be at the other end of the range, that is just big enough to fit your boots in. If you are in on the bar, then there is more leverage to break the bar (the weak point of the Fritschis.) Many of the broken Fritschis he has seen were as you describe yours. Remember, all 2nd hand info, blah, blah, blah... YMMV
Also you may end up with a smaller shell sometime that will not fit...