I’ve never fully understood this mod. Quite a few guys in our shop ride team swear by it. Is it to reduce the effect of cable stretch by having less cable?
Sorta. The cable can only be under so much tension when the brake isn't applied, which means it normally bows out a little. When you compress the brake, you're also pulling at this slack. While it does add a level of modulation, a spoke is stiffer and really puts the power on the rim.