Stats. do not bear out this hard line that beaten margin is far superior to last start placed finish.

56% of winners were beaten less than two lengths last start.
The stats are much the same for last start placegetters.
In addition 72% horses that win have been placed at least one of their last two starts.

I agree with the logic that a close up unplaced run can be superior to a well beaten placed run, but I think just saying one is far superior to the other is not backed up by history.

Good Punting