Thinking specifically of ladies here but pre-IJS step sequences were all over the map. Before the 2000s, some of the step sequences women were doing were so basic and perfunctory they might as well have skated to the side and taken a smoke break at the boards.
90s Michelle was the KWEEN of short and sweet step sequences that were intricate, interesting, difficult and perfectly timed with the music. They were more like little choreographic flourishes (I can't remember without rewatching but I think her Salome and Lyra programs didn't even have full step sequences in the traditional sense but the in-betweens were so complex they were sort of sprinkled throughout her program - that to me is so much more satisfying than a hard stop HERE'S MY STEP SEQUENCE thing that a lot of skaters did).
ETA
Ok I did rewatch her Salome and it did not have a full patterned step sequence but wonderful moments throughout the program like these:
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And her Taj Mahal program did have a full circular step sequence but it was quick and BRILLIANT:
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