Ok....so put this squarely in the FWIW category from a novice to modern skiing who ugglies his way down the hill sans much technique and equipment savvy.
With that said, I have to disagree on merit with the notion that discussing equipment set up is moot in terms of achieving a desired result. How many of us will really attain the level of understanding and technique of an HH and thus not need to ask about it....or even fudge the learning/performance curve when and if possible?
In most sports involving "tools", while the end result may be altered or mitigated largely by "technique" to a positive outcome, the athlete, equipment nomenclature and environment will always be variable factors in the paradigm. While set up may not be the be all end all to reaching "some" performance bench marks, nonetheless, still a factor.
Golf, different tools, a different series of motions and outcomes, yet involving the same elements of interfacing equipment and motion. Change the shaft of a club by a few grams, change the flex pattern, perhaps the loft and "to hit the identical shot" you were hitting prior to the change, your technique WILL change, perhaps very subtle, but it has to.
Similarly, equipment set up can make it either (sometimes significantly so) difficult or easier to hit a particular shot. If someone aspiring to learn to turn the ball over handed a pro his thick soled game improvement club with a senior flex shaft, could the pro hit the shot? Sure he could....and then he would hand the club back in favor of "his" stick, likely much more conducive to working the ball and likely "tweeked" through experimentation and tinkering to fit his particular body mechanics and swing style.
I suspect the same is true with mountain or road biking equipment and/or set ups. While I know little about that sport, I would offer that even with a $5000 bike you could lift with two fingers, position of the seat, frame style, handlebars, gear ratios, peddles, etc. all impact "how" you might ride and how easy or difficult it might be to reach a performance benchmark regardless of how fast you spin.
Wouldn't the same hold true for fore/aft balance in terms of physical attributes, style and equipment set up? I "get" the notion that in general, a traditional equipment set up is sufficient to enable fore/aft balance given proper technique. But I would also opine that Sir Isaac and Svend are exactly right in that for every action there is a reaction. Whether more or less impacted by equipment or technique. Again, certainly worthy of pontification.
And...with so many variables, does one size fit all?
just my .02.....