you are exactly right! I have some topline mountain cranks - a pair on my hardtail, and a pair in reserve. They were some of the lightest cranks on the planet in the early '90's - I suppose that they might compare well with modern stuff. They had a smallish maintenance issue: they broke when you hammered on 'em sometimes (I never broke mine, tho). I'd forgotten that I even used 'em...I'll watch this pair.