Yes it meets the requirement of "other guide". The last B737 that had the ball guide I have flown was a B737QC-200ADV circa 1981, we had some later model B737 200ADV new from the factory and they did not have the balls fitted.
Our B737-300 aircraft were delivered from the last batch of CL B737 (1998/9) Boeing built and none of those had the ball either.
From a trainer point of view, if you position to the exact sighting picture as per the FCTM then you will be set at the same eye height.