When all is said and done, I do think 9 ball is tougher to run out than 8 ball. However, I think it is easier for a lesser skilled player to WIN a game in 9 ball, given that slop accounts for a lot of early 9 balls, or a slopped early ball that resulted in a runout. And that just fries me.
I realize it doesn't happen too often at the pro level, but it does go into the statistics as a runout. A D player is going to ride the 9 or shoot hard at every given opportunity and will win more than his fair share just on slop. And I am surprised that no one mentioned that before.
Another factor that is not mentioned is that in 9 ball, if you miss and hang a ball, that is a detriment (especially if it is the 9ball!) because the next player gets to shoot it, whereas in 8 ball, it could become your biggest ally, blocking one or more of your opponent's balls and giving you a break out shot if needed. It is also nice if it is an 8 ball that you hung and it is blocking your opponent, but easy to kick if they hook you.
Bernie, I think you are wrong about pattern play. I learned real patterns when I started playing 9ball and having to move whitey around. In 8ball, you usually play zones, getting all the balls cleared in one half of the table with an intermediate side pocket shot to move to the other end and clear those off. (Exceptions might be not shooting in hangers, to use as insurance balls later). In 9ball, the one may be up table, the 2 down table, the 3 back up table, and so on, especially if they know how to rack!
You don't have to move your ball as much in 8 ball, and knowing multi-rail patterns from 9 ball has helped my 8 ball game, especially if they leave me an ugly do-or-die shot.
And a lot of the open table safes that you had to learn for 9ball to leave balls rail to rail, won't come up, unless you are both on the 8. Conversely, there are safeties that you play in 8 ball, that you can't play in 9ball - like putting the CB directly in line with 2 tied up balls and shooting your ball, separating them, and leaving them behind your ball, so that if you get BIH, your ball is now open. Safeties can be tougher in 8ball because you may have to hide from 7 balls instead of just 1.
The break is much easier in 9ball to pocket a ball and control the table. In fact, the 1 can become quite predictable. So much so that the use of the Sardo Tight Rack changed the whole game by racking the 9 on the spot instead of the 1.
They both have intricacies that are enjoyable to play. If slop wasn't allowed in 9 ball, I would enjoy playing it much more. 9ball is more of a shooter's game than 8ball. Not to say there isn't strategy too, but it is more calculating percentages of whether to shoot or play safe, whereas in 8 ball, I find it more challenging to include all the other balls in my calculations too.

Another factor that is not mentioned is that in 9 ball, if you miss and hang a ball, that is a detriment (especially if it is the 9ball!) because the next player gets to shoot it, whereas in 8 ball, it could become your biggest ally, blocking one or more of your opponent's balls and giving you a break out shot if needed. It is also nice if it is an 8 ball that you hung and it is blocking your opponent, but easy to kick if they hook you.
Bernie, I think you are wrong about pattern play. I learned real patterns when I started playing 9ball and having to move whitey around. In 8ball, you usually play zones, getting all the balls cleared in one half of the table with an intermediate side pocket shot to move to the other end and clear those off. (Exceptions might be not shooting in hangers, to use as insurance balls later). In 9ball, the one may be up table, the 2 down table, the 3 back up table, and so on, especially if they know how to rack!


And a lot of the open table safes that you had to learn for 9ball to leave balls rail to rail, won't come up, unless you are both on the 8. Conversely, there are safeties that you play in 8 ball, that you can't play in 9ball - like putting the CB directly in line with 2 tied up balls and shooting your ball, separating them, and leaving them behind your ball, so that if you get BIH, your ball is now open. Safeties can be tougher in 8ball because you may have to hide from 7 balls instead of just 1.
The break is much easier in 9ball to pocket a ball and control the table. In fact, the 1 can become quite predictable. So much so that the use of the Sardo Tight Rack changed the whole game by racking the 9 on the spot instead of the 1.
They both have intricacies that are enjoyable to play. If slop wasn't allowed in 9 ball, I would enjoy playing it much more. 9ball is more of a shooter's game than 8ball. Not to say there isn't strategy too, but it is more calculating percentages of whether to shoot or play safe, whereas in 8 ball, I find it more challenging to include all the other balls in my calculations too.