I think he's probably right.

What is the min insertion about anyway? Is it there to protect the rider or the frame? Can anyone explain? Breaking a quill seems like quite a feat; deforming a steerer from too little insertion seems much more plausible. I guess I've never really thought about it all that much.

How hard will your wife be pushing this bike?

[edit] Also some of this might be helpful:
http://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...guid-stem.html