I felt just the opposite. I wanted a longer SUP style to use for maneuvering while standing in the shallow. I purchased the Accent Transformer Pro Slider. It converts to a SUP paddle, stake out pole, standard kayak paddle or single blade paddle. Not cheap, and not as light as the Hobie Paddle, but it does everything I need it to do. Plus, I can keep all the accessories under the front hatch of my PA14. Only negative is the price! FYI: I typically keep it in the SUP configuration, but the slider set to the shortest length possible. Extending it is simply moving a slide and it extends effortlessly to the length I want.
http://accentpaddles.com/product/transformer-pro-slider/As far as storage, I am really happy with the YakAttack Roto-Grip paddle holders I have installed on the outside of my kayak's H-Rail. They are mounted to Hobie H-Rail Might Mounts and let me move the paddle to either side, forward or backward and they sit outside the kayak. I added H-Rails to the back of my kayak just so that my longer paddle would have a place completely out of the way but easily accessible.
