Last post was sitting in a car at a parking lot about to drive off so it may not make a lot of sense.

The sole is not 50% wider, but considerably wider. It also has a curved edge at the end so it wraps a little bit on the side vs the s works being completely flat. On the S works my foot had an extra few mm hanging off the side of the carbon sole. That made the side of my feet push on the vinyl, which is flexy. Therefore that feel.

I think the reason the stiff sole is popular is because it evens out the power output through the entire shoe. The pedal is the pressure point on the shoe, and the stiff sole makes sure that the force applied is spread out evenly through the entire sole. Then it doesn't create much of a hot spot. Once you have that "even" ground setting then adding cushion to your feet is no biggie because the "base" is completely flat across the length of your foot instead of the 2 inch pedal.

Example,

Put a 2 inch diameter cylinder on the floor then push it down HARD with the palm of your hand. It will most likely hurt you.

Put a 6 or 7 inch diameter cylinder on the floor then push it HARD with the palm of your hand. It will most likely lift you of the ground.

Same happens with the shoe.

Go further. Put a piece of 7 inch diameter cardboard on top of the 2 inch diameter cylinder then press it with your palm.

Then put a 7 inch diameter wood piece on top of the 2 inch diameter and push...


etc etc. yadda yadda. I hope this makes sense and I don't get burnt if I'm wrong .