Bilstein 5100 adjustable coil overs

Can someone explain to me how getting a 3" lift with an adjustable shock absorber doesn't degrade the ride? Don't the different settings on the shock just increase preload making the whole spring/shock assembly stiffer? I assume its similar to tightening the torsion bars on other trucks which can make them drive like crap. Please correct me if im thinking of this wrong.

 

I kind of wondered this as well. Everyone complains about spacers being horrible, but just throwing on adjustable 5100's and changing the notch seems like it would be the same thing (minus some minor improvements from shock valving)

 

if you set the preload to the max it will ride horrible. I had 5100's on stock coils pre-loaded to 1.75 and it was ok in the dirty but hoppy in the street. 1.75 will be ok for daily use, any more and the ride just goes to hell.

I ended up going with OME 885's with 9000's and it rides great.