Have to agree with @dave_bass5 and@CameronJ overall, and cabs defo have to be balanced to their heads, one setting will not fix all.
Switching to a pick up closer to the bridge will of course make a difference as would playing closer to the bridge compared to the neck. From the example given like has been said it could be someone’s preferred sound, or the balance with all other instruments wasn’t quite right from the start, but that doesn’t therefore make a rule of thumb.
The normal vs reverse split coil will produce a slightly different sound, but again that depends on placement-what if the reverse split was located further forward from the ‘sweet spot’, therefore placing it exactly where it would normally be? There would be no difference there.
I don’t think anyone is saying there will not be some difference, it’s more sweeping broad statements that are not quite so.