In a gasoline engine, you've got to keep knock down, so you do everything you can to keep the fuel charge from self igniting, or detonating. Insulating things with ceramics keeps heat from raisin the charge air temperature. On a diesel, it's exaclty oposite. Self ignition *IS* the goal on a diesel. But ceramics can be used to raise combusition temperature, and keep the heat where it needs to be, so it can do real work.
Reverse cooling, forward cooling, it makes no difference on a Lister, because you don't need to keep the heads cool to keep detonation down like on a gasoline engine. Quite the oposite: You want the heads to be warm to promote good combustion. Thats why diesels don't like to start when they're cold!
Ceramic coating could probably increase the mechanical efficaincy of a Lister, because lost heat equals lost power. At the very least, it would raise exhaust temp. And it might even help cold starting.
Ceramic coating: I'll add it to my list of "Lister things to try."
As for rockwool or fiberglass.... thinking abot it a little more...... they'd both become very flamable once they wicked themselves full of oil.
