Older cantilever brakes with separate saddle cable had possible safety problem of the saddle cable becoming detached from the main brake cable, such as if the saddle anchor bolt slipped or if saddle cable somehow jumped off the hanger (user error). The saddle cable would then snag the MTB tire tread blocks and lock the wheel, particularly unsafe if that happens to front wheel. I think this was cannondales attempt to mitigate the safety problem since the saddle cable cannot get over the eccentric pivot. Shimano did things different with the main brake cable anchored directly to the cantilever arm and a piece of brake cable housing going to opposite leg of the saddle cable Y.