shokosugi distance isn't important to me in a hybrid as its more about getting the right yardage gaps and something that's easy and reliable to hit.
Agreed, but assuming one can hit a newer 5 hybrid 10 yards longer than an older one , you're now moving your accuracy out 10 more yards also, if that makes sense the way I'm saying it. In other words most people are more accurate with their 5H than a 4H so if a newer 5h gives you the distance of your old 4H with the same accuracy of your old 5H you're better off. Now if the new 5H is only longer because they dropped the loft and made it longer, essentially slapping a 5 on what used to be a 4 than there's no real gain there.