Gotta say. The whole rudder-gudgeon-pintle set up on the (post 72) Sunfish is a great bit of engineering. Better designed than on any other dinghy I have sailed. So easy to fit, to remove, to drop the rudder and raise it. No lines or fiddly split-pins. Never pops up when you don't want it to. When not in use it all fits nicely in the cockpit too. I wouldn't change anything about it.
Installing one of these at its pivot point would reduce its awkwardness—but remember they're stainless steel, and will cause wear to aluminum surfaces.