Originally Posted by
AndreyT
First part of the above quote just discards the last couple of decades of bicycle drivetrain development: the Holy Grail of big-big. The entire drivetrain design in 2000s was focused on one single purpose: enabling big-big and what comes with it, e.g. reduced sifting, increased efficiency, reduced chainring-sprocket wear, reduced chain strain.
Second part of the above quote actually contradicts the first: all other thigs being equal it is specifically big-big that puts less strain on the chain (than the equivalent small-bigger combination).
While I do not question what you say, I suspect in regard to my $900 Trek, whatever developments have occurred to enable safe cross chaining, it is not going to be seen on anything other than top-level road bikes.