Plan b would be to upgrade the stall stator to a lower rpm one in the tc. This way it hits the rpm range sooner for max transfer minus a direct connection. Typically you want the stall speed at your peak torque or power band.
I had a van with a sticky lock up clutch. To stop without stalling the engine was to almost coast to a stop and feather the brakes til I felt a bump like. Then I knew I could stop harder without stallout out. If I just jam on the brakes to a stop like a fast light or someone coming out in front of me it stalled out. In all it still got me 9mpg.
Yeah the cvt in the honda is more fluid in drive where it has predefined ratios in sport mode. Kind of like how the newer prius 3 where you start to floor it you hear the engine rev up to different preset rpms and holds it til you lift.