On most Horizons, that retractable area would be in the engine compartment, good thing that the telescoping sternight assembly is ignition protected. I don't see that it's telescoping, to me it just looks retractable - that is that the pole is of fixed length. If so, the pole is at most 2" tall (interesting that they do not publish the overall height when extended). The stock sternlight is what 4" tall?

Same reason cars don't use them anymore. I replaced it on my '87 GTA TWICE!

Wow, some issues I did not think about. I guess it may be a concern that someone could grab ahold of the mooring light when exiting the boat, although this has not happened to me with the screw in mooring light, replacing the telescoping unit would definitly be a harder nut to swallow. I am less concerned with failure as some have posted. The boat is kept indoors when not in use, and not subject to exposure. I don't think you can compare the use of an automated mooring light to a car radio antenia that is subject to daily use although sitting idle without daily use is not good either (the same can be said about all the other electrical componenents already installed not being used daily). Another option would be to move the light to the port side and leave the existing stern light base as a back up mooring light/flag holder. I still think there is a cool factor to consider.