E type
#2
On the ones I've seen, there's no way to adjust the height of the derailleur if you ever change the size of your large chainring. And they're heavy. Their purpose is to accomodate unconventional (usually full-suspension) mountain bike frames where a conventional front derailleur can't be mounted otherwise. Also, on lower end bikes that have them, they would make assembly of the bicycle easier and faster because there's no way to get the derailluer height wrong, just put the front derailluer on along with the bottom bracket assembly; foolfproof and fast. And heavy. And non-adjustable. I don't know about flexing affecting shifting performance, maybe that too-






