When said simple explanations are wrong, then yes, I are not taken by them. Why do you think the AE manuals moved away from saying higher/longer = more traction and shorter/lower = less traction? Because it was a generalization. The manuals now say that higher/longer = lower roll center, and lower/shorter = higher roll center.

If they realized the error of their ways -- so can you. I have personally found less washers making the rear have way more grip at our track, but at other tracks, more washers was better.

All I can do is offer my experience and empirical results.