what's the difference between a double bend shifter and a shifter with no bends? besides the obvious, difference in height? throws?

 

They work exactly the same way. The double bend just looks different and your shiftknob sits a bit further towards the back of the car.

The thing that shortens or lengthens the throw is the distance from the ball on the shifter to the attachment point on the linkage. The more distance between the two the shorter the throw will be .