Theory question: position and table size

I am trying to get my head around the way that table size changes the value of cards.

In relation to something I read :

"At a 9 man table, A6o is not a particularly great hand, and you certainly don't want to raise with it in middle position. At a 5 man table, this suddenly becomes a pretty good hand for attacking the blinds in the same position. At a 9 man table, two after the BB is middle position. At a 5 man table, two after the BB is the cutoff seat!"

I get the basic obvious fact that if you are first to act on a 5 handed table you have less people behind you so you can raise wider than if you were first to act on a 9 handed table.

My question is this:

Is there a difference between being on a 9 handed table, with the first 4 people folding, and you then being left to act with 4 people behind you ; and being on a 5 handed table and being first to act? Does the fact people have folded cards in front of you add anything to the situation that wouldn't be present in the straight forward 5 handed table?

Hope I made this clear

I guess it's the same thing. If you are 5max and first to act or 9max with 4 players folded to you

Jim, essentially there are less cards in play is the simplest way to view it. That changes the odds drastically. It isnt the fact you have less people that can 3 bet you, its the fact that less people = less of a chance of running into a made hand. So essentially less people = less of a chance to run into trouble, thus average suited aces can now be viewed with stronger value and played much more aggressively with a lower frequency of running into problems

Here's a good video to watch on this topic - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDUt1Hq_XtQ&list=PLBrNnyWekagMpkljGANXALnZcmLanFwHU

the simple way to use this info is to shift your starting hands to the right so if you would play jj in middle but not early now its and early hand or A6o in late now youll put in a bet for middle pos its not the most omplex strategy but its served me well when the table gets short however if the table get too loose like playing 84o in the early a lot tighten up o your usuall requirements and punih them with huge bets pre flop as the blinds come around very fast