Kinda disagree, kinda agree.
To stitch two comments together, I disagree that ‘85% production’ is ‘prolly true for most RBs we call elite’. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’d say it’s false for any all-time rushing list Top 20 RB. Maybe it’s true only for Priest Holmes, Jamaal Charles and Demarco Murray, but they’re not ‘RBs we call elite’ (few exceptions of elite are Earl Campbell, Gale Sayers).
I do agree that an elite RBs legacy is largely based on the best 4-5 years. However, it seems that Hall of Fame induction significantly weighs having an additional 3-4 good/great seasons. Terrell Davis isnt controversial because his four seasons weren’t elite, it was that he didn’t have the extra 3-4 good/great seasons to supplement. While Emmitt’s 91-95 seasons are his prime, it’s his six good/great seasons over 1,000 yards after 1996 that make him a no-brainer Hall of Famer.