Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,642
Likes: 1,106
From: Mans of NC & SW UT Desert
Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more
Not important at all. Focus on top tube length. You can easily lean a bike to one side to put a foot on the ground. Just put one foot down, not both feet.
Bikes are built for "average" proportion people. Like any average, half of the people out there are on one side of the average or the other. So some have long torso, short leg, others have long leg, short torso. I am 5-10, my wife who is 5-3 has the same exact inseam. If I get a bike sized to fit my super short legs, I end up scrunched with a way too short top tube.
Agree it is important if you are riding a MTB off road.
Google road bike sizing top tube length, you will find endless information out there.