"These coaches" - that's a sweeping generalization. It's not specific. He can't possibly have critiqued all the coaches he was talking about. It's like saying "these Brits like their beer warm". We don't all like our beer warm. Some Brits don't drink beer. Savvy?
It is not necessary to know every Frenchman to know about Frenchmen. I'm sure you agree with that.
I understand these issues:
-Lockout position
-Raised handles reducing ROM and changing body angles at the start of the pull
Other than that, can you please explain to me why the hex bar is more like a squat than a deadlift? The force is pulling on the hands, so won't the mechanics be more or less like a rack pull given that you keep the hips in the same position as you would a rack pull?
To brit76: do you focus really hard on not dropping your hips in the setup, and still experience bloody shins?
When I first started to dead lift my shins would get tore up too. Then I realized my stance was too wide. Notice how the barbell has two smooth parts on it? That's where your shins should be (most likely).