Nice post that is generally valid.
I made the point earlier about the breaking in Post #12, so we're together on that.
Agreed that tight pockets would have never slowed Earl down, and they may have even increased his advantage.
Excepting the play of the Filipinos, I'm not sure defensive play has evolved that much over the past twenty five years, and I think Earl would have held his own when it came to playing safe.
The jump cue really wasn't yet in vogue yet twenty five years ago, and back then, very few carried one. Earl was as good a full-cue jumper as there was (Sammy Jones and Johnny Archer are certainly in the conversation) in the game, so it's hard not to view Earl as less than elite jumper, That said, though, Earl is not elite with the jump cue like Albin Ouschan or Ko Pin-Yi). Perhaps he'd have been if the jump cue had been in wide use in his formative years.
That said, I am in 100% agreement about the kicking. The billiard knowledge of today's players is, on average, far beyond what we saw twenty five years ago. This is in part because the gradual adoption of Texas Express rules demanded the development of superior kicking skills. By today's standards, Earl in his prime was not an outstanding kicker.
There are far more great shot makers today than twenty five year ago, so I'm on board with you there.
In general, I agree with your excellent post.
PS As an afterthought, don't sell the last generation short. We have never seen a better pattern player than Buddy Hall, and one must wonder whether we ever will.
