The spark plug industry has been introducing different designs since the industry was invented, and they always claimed their latest design gave improved performance over the competitors. It's the nature of the business. Funny thing though, most vehicles still come from the factory with standard style plugs (but with platinum electrodes in the auto industry). The only thing that has actually improved ignition system performance over the years is the massive improvement in voltage output along with the more accurate and reliable electronics. A good high output secondary ignition system will provide a good spark even with worn plugs & slightly wider than normal gaps, no matter what style plug is being used.
The big difference with platinum or iridium plugs relates to longevity, with electrodes that erode more slowly and thus maintain performance for longer mileage intervals. That's what makes 100,000 mile plug change intervals possible. If you compare new standard style plugs and new iridium or platinum plugs in the same vehicle, there will be no difference in performance. If you compare them again when each has 40,000 miles of use, then you will see a difference. The fine wire electrode style has an additional advantage of a lower voltage requirement to fire, which makes no difference when compared to a regular plug when new but can make a significant difference when the plugs have a lot of miles on them. So in conclusion, the style of plug makes no difference in performance when new, but differences will emerge over time.
Jerry