I think you get used to the shorter length quickly.
My cm/b is also longer than the cm/sb.
And I notice the difference in the first few lines. after that no more.
I also have my reservations about the better responsiveness.
When I do detailed work I use the paint that is in the airbrush and not the paint from the cub.
I regularly have to pull the trigger further back to get enough suction power so that there is paint in the airbrush again.
With the new cub that is probably no longer necessary.
But I don't think it matters if it's closer to the front.
In my opinion you can only change the response with your trigger short trigger or long trigger
and the angle of your needle.
Or am I completely off the mark now?
Hmmm.... I hadn't considered that. You raise a good point.
When you are really close in doing detail work, like skin texture, eyes, etc... one does tend to rely on the paint that is already in the brush body, rather than cup. You're just sipping the paint already 'in the chamber' so to speak. It's the reason a gravity feed is often more reliable for response and some control, as gravity makes sure there is always paint, even when suction is low.
Problem for someone like me with my gorilla hands, is that the damn cup gets in the way of my finger on the trigger, so I have to really crook my finger and it gets tired quickly. Also, that cup is in the way when looking at my work, unless I look around the side, or will cast a weird shadow on the paper.
So I prefer the side feed models for any long session. Tons of finger room, and I can see things.
Downside is the dreaded stall and surge because on detail work, sometimes you aren't pushing enough air to get the suction to pull new paint into the chamber. Over time enough will slowly build up, and it will start again with a surge, leaving an unwelcome 'spit' or splat on the support.
Over the years I've developed a kind of habit for keeping paint flowing at super fine detail. I have a cheap paper sketchbook beside me and just sort of auto blast the page on it when the paint starts slowing down.
Maybe with the Takumi cup feed being higher and taking advantage of gravity, and in theory at least, a shorter paint path.... those changes might tame that particular beast. It looks like it might provide the best of both gravity feed dynamics as well as a cup that is out of the way of my finger and eyesight. It would be a welcome change.
Guess I am going to need to pick one up to see.