Shadow MTB rear mechs Vs older design - old tucks into smaller sprockets better?

[Manc33]

Cheers Brucey you're a tome of info. I'm going back to the old design. The chain can slap all it wants.

[thelawnet]

An original Deore XT from 1983 took e.g. 13-34t 6-speed freewheel, and a 48/38/28 chainset

https://si.shimano.com/pdfs/ev/EV-MF-6208-6-0704H.pdf
https://si.shimano.com/pdfs/si/SI-N-61-000-00-ENG.pdf

The RD was a good bit lighter than a current XT model. And more range than a modern 1 x 11 system.

[Manc33]

I have no idea how but the newer shadow mechs (including 11-speed) shift as fast or faster than 8-speed/9-speed. On the new stuff (I tried M9000 shifter, M8000 rear mech and M7000 cassette) the upper jockey wheel can be miles away from the smaller sprockets and it just doesn't matter about it, the shifting is excellent on it. I don't understand how and I'm not even going to try to work it out.