I don't study the chemical makeup spec's on different lubes, but the Tri-Flow seems much thicker than WD40 after application. Have you tried both products on a chain for example?
I would say that the difference is dramatic in terms of how much lube reappears on the outside of the chain after wiping it down and then riding 100 miles.
The WD40 doesn't leave much lube behind after wiping the chain down, seemingly because it's thinner and it's greater volatility leaves far less lubricating product behind.

The ingredient naptha is a solvent, not a lube. Quoting Brittanica, "naphtha, any of various volatile, highly flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures used chiefly as solvents and diluents".

If you've used Finish Line Citrus Degreaser, you'd know that it cuts old crusty grease much faster than other solvents or degreasers. It's much more aggressive on hardened grease, with fumes to match, and is proportionally bad in terms of de-fatting one's skin.

I would say that the constituent descriptions you've mentioned are quite vague in terms of the specific molecule sizes and properties. Those are just families of hydrocarbons, not specific molecule descriptions. As such, the properties of the compounds can vary tremendously.

As I mentioned earlier, visible access to the pawls is a feature of the Shimano road STI levers having hidden shift cables.
I've had a go at the internals of many variations of Shimano's Rapidfire-Plus levers, and as I said there is a range of difficulty but most are quick and easy to look inside.