I've tried on shirts and sweaters and jackets. When they fit me in the chest and torso the sleeves are always an inch or two too short. I'm convinced I have disproportionally long arms. Is there any hope for me buying off the rack?

Of course there’s hope for you, but without your measurements there’s no way for me to offer any real advice to you. That’s like telling a physician over the phone that you threw up last night and then asking him what’s wrong while offering him no other facts to help support his analysis.