Worth moving halyards? Or just keep them at the mast base?

[JeremyFowler]

Hi from New Zealand
We've just bought an old Cavalier 39 and wondered whether to move all the control lines to the cockpit or not. Our experience with our trailer-sailer is that the most stressful time is when putting in a reef, (somehow we always leave this too late), and then I've had to scurry to the mast and back to the cockpit a couple of times. I've managed to break 3 ribs to-ing and fro-ing while riding the wave rodeo. Maybe it's best to just leave everything at the mast in the first place? Also, it will save heaps on new clutches, etc... But then there would be the rope mess to deal with while exposed at the mast...
What are the thoughts on this? We've no experience with mast based lines...
It has always been a comfort that one can let fly the halyards from the cockpit in an emergency, but we've never come close to doing it.
Cheers!