Most untrue statement ever. Lesser segments create better rides IF you are only willing to spend limited time on each ride. To make a truly top notch ride in SM, it is actually necessary to use excessive amounts of segments, otherwise it is impossible to create accurate shaping and avoid pumping while still keeping the ride smooth.
More segments allow for better precision and are technically better IMO, however working with more segments and vertices can become a pain in the ass, because then if you move one vertice, it effects the surrounding ones more than it would if you used fewer vertices.
That's how NL works at least IMO, I'd expect SM to be relatively similar.