Don't think anyone said 1st set improv was better.. Think they were saying the lack of much 1st set improv is the only thing holding the last few years back from being on par with anything.

I think 11-14 for the most part annihilates fall 98-04 when it comes down to simple "how good is the jamming?" Questions.. But the set construction back in the day has to come into play for sure.. Plus the fact that some boring 25 minute Sand from 99 gets higher marks for effort than a handful of standards