I hear ya. Not sure how easy to make that pattern change. The neck opening does sit further back or something into the upper back panel. I have always noticed on a JL a back length of 24 wears similar to my aeros with a longer back length say 25 ish.i think the zipper must stop at the hollow of your neck, near where your tshirt neck is, and the neck hole smaller or how the collar is connected to the neck hole should slanting inward on the front an side touching your neck , so when you spread them as a lapel it would look flat the neck hole is not too wide, just like a collar and lapel of a suit jacket.