I may be way off base, but I wonder if it has anything to due with the types of bows available when these guys started. Back then recurves were the rage, they were supposed to be faster and less shocky, and were shorter making them advantageous in hunting situations. Long bows were long bows, not like the hybrids and short long bows we see today.
I wonder if some of those guys were just starting out today they might be shooting hybrids...
Also, the above is just a pure WAG.
