Of course there ARE short tangs and non-"U" upper tangs accompanied by round knobs on some of the guns produced during the infamous experiment. What is a tang 'n knob fetishist to do? When I find a "savory" (but undamaged) Diana grade 20 for 1800$, I'll have that one too.
As has been suggested, the rationalization of upper tang shape and the on-again, off again mixing of lower tang lengths and various terminations of grips occuring circa 1966-7 are roughly concurrent with the onset of the salt problem and are utilized as readily-recognizable characteristics which, altho not of tremendous importance themselves, signal hidden dangers much as does the hourglass marking on a Black Widow.
jack
