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Originally Posted by
Brandon Oto
I haven't played with it enough for a personal opinion, but my instinct is that the "reason" for a more vertical start position, EVEN IF you end up having to move back momentarily into the deadlift posture at some point in the pull, is that the psychological difference between
1. Starting horizontal (deadlift) and going vertical (second pull)
and
2. Starting vertical (first pull), popping through a horizontal position for a moment, and immediately moving back to your vertical position for the second pull
is significant, and lets you "feel" like you're staying more vertical the entire time. Combine that with being as vertical as possible within the biomechanical limitations of the movement (there is some room for variation here and this way you're always on one extreme) and the difference may be significant.