Robert
I get what you are saying. I'm going to try that trick. When loading long-sleeve shirts i typically hold the shirt by one cuff and lower it into the tub. Slacks the same way. Lower by the cuffs and let it all pile-up in one spot. Towels as well, hold by the short end and lower straight down. I never hold anything, especially long items, in a horizontal fashion when loading.
The people in warmer climates likely had better luck with the tangling. When I lived in Miami, all my casual stuff was short-sleeved or short-pants. Never had a problem with tangling (except sheets).