This is an excellent point.
I would argue that the thinking distance is now greater.
As a 7 series driver, I have the confidence I can stop in an unfeasible distance. This does, psychologically, allow risk to enter the frame. When I had a naff old Ford, I kept a rule-o-thumb (Actually geekily calculated) that the car in front at 70mph should not be as wide as my middle fingertip with arm outstretched. (Do yout owm trig.!!). With the correct gap like this, other drivers fill it, because it is (By modern standards) an enormous gap.
Now, in teh 7, I feel I could stop on a sixpence…so I don’t actually mind a smaller gap. WRONG ATTITUDE!! But, the experience of the car sort of forces me into this psychological minefield.