10y ago - general bike fit advice says the distance from saddle noise to star nut should be approx elbow to index finger. Then a 100mm stem with 600mm wide bars.
With the trend for short stem and wide bars, does the saddle noise to star nut distance still hold true?
i go for whatever fits really, rules are there to be broken. Seat post angle changes the distance a huge amount. My guide is not bashing knees on bars
We're not talking about road bikes, so why use a silly old roadbike fitting rule?
The rule you are talking about didn't hold true 10 years ago (or 20 for that matter)
the length of stem and width bars you choose to fit will of course affect the bike's handling but Your saddle should be set-up at an optimum height, angle and fore-aft position in relation to your BB position not the handle bars/stem.
The current mtb wide fashion of wide bars and short stem originates from the downhill aspect of the sport where exact saddle position is fairly irrellivent.