QUOTE=
Originally Posted by Trakhak
Again: racers on bikes with Softride stems in the late '90's obliterated the rest of the field. It was only when suspension forks with significantly greater travel than the 1990's standard came along that forks became an obviously superior choice.

Edit: superior for racing on rough trails, that is. There is a good reason why various bike manufacturers have in recent years introduced front suspension designs for endurance and gravel bikes that do not incorporate the suspension in the fork legs. Non-fork front suspension, located in either the frame or the stem, may become commonplace on gravel bikes in the next few years. [/QUOTE]

QUOTE=hidetaka;23674954]That's a compelling argument if we were to travel back in time 30 years or for some reason ignore every development that happened since [/QUOTE]

More like 35 yrs... Considering that the Softride Frankenstem came out about the same time/era as the first generation of suspension forks, there wasn't much difference there - but both forms of suspension were clearly 'more performance' that the predominant rigid forks of that time... And this was 'MTB' - now riding 'gravel' was being done all during that time and since... most often on some form of mtb bike. For MTB, suspension forks proved to be the more progressive avenue for technology to go.

Now, 'gravel' has become a 'thing', because some many want to ride 'off paved roads' and also ride on paved roads, on the same ride.
Pure mtbs are just not that much fun on a paved surface... and riding pure 'road' bikes on unpaved surfaces are also not that enjoyable...
hence 'gravel'
and once you get on very varied 'gravel', having some compliance, for many, is an advantage - more comfort, less fatigue, possibly faster and possibly 'safer' on really challenging or lengthy rides.
'Gravel' fills that very large 'in-between' of road and mountain biking.
SO why not a full spectrum of hardware as well? Full Rigid, Partial and/or Simple Suspension, Full/Complex Suspension ? Sounds like a great thing!
it's not about 'old' vs 'New'.
Will there be more development in all suspension options for 'gravel' ? I would guess offerings will expand and refine.
I read a good summary of the current gravel 'suspension' spectrum.
'Suspension Bible for Gravel & Road' - it's not really a 'Bible'/Defacto Comprehensive, but it is a good summary of the current state.

It's not about 'Old' vs 'New'... it's about what might work for each rider...
Back in 2015 Cannondale intro'd the 'Lefty' Fork on a gravel bike. It's about the 'Oldest' production gravel bike with suspension...
and yet, it's as 'current' as/or 'more' of any of the new gravel suspension offerings...
'Gravel suspension' is really great form me, and makes the variety of places I ride, much more enjoyable.
Ride On
Yuri