My experience with verical battens in the Amel 54 mainsail does not mirror the negative comments. In over 10,000 miles of ocean sailing and winds of 0 to 60+ knots, I have had no trouble reefing the sail. I have never had to go head to wind to reef, and I have never had the battens jam in the mast. I found little difference between the SM with no battens and the 54 with vertical battens with respect to ease of mainsail handling.
