I've not flown a Maule, and only have about 250 hours in tailraggers, so Mr Maule may have the advantage of me, but myself, I think you aren't competent in any taildragger until you are fluent in both 3-point and wheeler landings in it.
The issue for me here is neither lift nor drag, but lift curve slope. Flaps increase the lift curve slope, which increases the gust response in turbulence. Hence that lower flaps should work better - and if it's windy enough to need this, usually you have more than enough runway to land with a higher approach speed.
G