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).
hogwash...
the recent engineering changes revolved around improved shift speed, shifting under load, and increasing available wrap to allow ever-wider gearing choices..
that improved tech. always filters down to the lower ranked parts groups, over time.
those changes began well over a decade before your proposed time.
and sometimes, the major improvements get publicly tested on lesser groups, like Shimano's Mega-Range Tourney and Altus groups.