[Doubleneck]

I can relate. I think you are correct about protecting your hand during your other activities. I love to flintknapp, making arrowhead reproductions out of stone. I am 63 and find my hands are much less forgiving to the shock they take hitting stone. I try to wear gloves for padding now and try not to over do. I have had both your guitar and a Parlor short scale and I am not sure the change will be significant. What will change is the neck profile, try to play the NS or N2 neck in a store and see what you think, some say the fuller neck is easier on old hands. I have found my easy hands guitar by going Cargo type short scale 22 3/4. Also I find a 1 11/16 thin neck is better for me. At this scale length you really feel the decrease in tension. Best to drive and try some options, so dependent on your style of play, and size of hands.