Mason :
"If you really want to look at powerlifting and how much real progress has been made in the last 30 years, you will find it is very little (as you are touting the greatness of the training methods). The progress seen in the squat and bench press are more due to training apparatus than true increases in strength.
To compare true strength we only need look at the deadlift. Suits may help a bit here, but nothing like the squat. The current record, to my best recollection, is in the 933 range by Bolton. John Kuc was pulling close to 900 in the early 70s (I will double check when I get home) and Kaz pulled over 900 in the 70s. Gee, that westside really has jacked the deadlift a lot, huh?
My point is not to deride westside, only to show that it is certainly not the be all and end all of training methodology."