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Hmm...a very interesting quandry. I would say that the backsliding created by the "glass slipper" era i.e. thin, chippy, and rockered out surfboards popularized by Slater is a situation where surfers who might not have had enough experience to ride them, and didn't know better, attempted to anyways. The thing that I find interesting about this newer trend is that in my experience thicker foam up front has helped my paddle power. Not only does this help you catch waves easier but enables me to surf longer as I don't have to exert so much energy to paddle my thinner "high performance" shortboard around. A board with more foam, a flatter rocker, and a wide point up front can help to facilitate progression in ones surfing. Not to mention that summer in San Diego doesn't always offer up perfect waves. My first surfboard was a 6'1" Santa Cruz shortboard. The WORST board to learn on. I remember the first day I rode a longer board with more foam and it totally opened my eyes to how much easier it could all be! My progression increased 10 fold and sooner than later I was back on a shortboard and with the basics a little more ironed out.