Sorry Stu, gonna respectfully disagree with you on this one.
One, from 40 years of experience playing, 9-ball is flat out easier to break & run, at any level.
Two, if 9 and 10 ball were equally easy to run out, beating "the ghost" would be equal. They are about 50 fargo points apart in difficultly in my experience.
Three, slop counts in 9-ball, leading to more "2-way" OFFENSIVE shots (slop) attempts and makes.
Four, it's easier to get a successful (and controlled) break in 9-ball.
I could go on, but I'm tired lol.
The 10-ball at this World Championship has separated the contenders from the pretenders very well. Excellent safety play, kicking, and jumping are all required at the highest level to make the final 4 in this tourney, not many wide open racks to run (because of the sh!tty Aero racking done by crappy racking refs). The tables are horribly slow too, you've got to have a great and accurate power stroke for sure.
ALL of the top elements of billiards skill are needed to win this brutal championship, and the final 4 young men have them.