It seems to me that the padding area that needs the most attention is right at the sit bones. For each rider, its going to be different. Whether the padding is on the saddle or on the shorts, it still has to address the sit bones question.

Then it means the sit bones take on the most weight to support. When a rider moves around, it changes the dynamics as to what the saddle is called to support.

I watch the TdF time trials and those riders have an aggressive seat tube angle and their seat position appears to move forward towards the nose of the saddle. Lucky for them a typical Time Trial is not that long of a ride.

Whether its high density foam or gel, the two types of material has to somehow help support the weight of the rider where it lands. Too much gel and a rider will be sitting in a bed of squish as the gel tends to flatten out. The high density foam sounds better, a more directional support just where you need it, unless the rider moves around.

I suspect that on a long ride, not super fast, a rider can maintain the sit bones alignment to the saddle and have less discomfort.