gauge is off pretty significantly, but i kind of like the fit? how to proceed

okay so i'm going to try to do my best to explain myself. i'm definitely a beginner knitter--i learned 8 or 9 years ago but hadn't picked it up in almost as long and have been doing more crochet. i just started up again making the ursina sweater by jaq cieslak and i've run into a dilemma.

i made a gauge swatch before starting and thought i had a good handle on it. but after much trial and error and restarting, i think i started knitting tighter and have ended up with a very different gauge (it calls for 32 rows per 4in after blocking, but now i have more like 43). the thing is, i actually like the fit in the size i made with this messed up gauge. it's a little more fitted than the sweater is designed to be, but i kind of like it that way. however, it's a little too short even for a cropped sweater, and i can tell its knitted rather tightly.

so here is my question for more experienced knitters. should i frog halfway and make the sweater longer with the same gauge? or should i start over and make the sweater size down to get the fitted effect i like with the correct gauge?