Saw them both on a daily basis. Much preferred the 1993 version. Always though the 1998 version was unnecessary.
I think that many bbers reached that certain point, where they are at their absolute best, and adding more weight destroys that balance. For many it's their rookie year. Like Flex and Phil Heath (2006, and 2007).
Some it's later on, Vic Martinez when he won the NOC. Others like Ronnie and it happens later (Ronnie in 98)
In fact, I would even say that Chris Cormier was one of the rarest ones where he could literally keep getting bigger and still be "aesthetic". You could visually imagine him at 270ish, and still keep his lines.