Before changing anything in eTeks\Sweet Home 3D private folder, I would create a backup of it, so if something goes wrong, you can get back your previous settings.

As far as I can tell all of the information added in 4.4 BETA is also available when using 4.3.

No, a rotated texture won't appear as rotated in version 4.3 and if you save a sh3d file with Sweet Home 3D 4.3 in which you used a rotated texture, it won't appear as rotated anymore when you reopen it in version 4.4. Same thing for dropOnTopElevation value, and future information that might be added in coming beta versions.