So this stuff still exists as you have probably noticed. In MKX it was of great use to Goro and in i2 young boy Robin can make solid use of it.
For those unaware, walking forward/backwards is not one set motion but rather a beginning initial animation, and then the secondary followup of the complete walk forward/backward. For most characters its mostly unnoticeable but incredibly pronounced on Robin. He quickly takes a step backwards, then walks back slower than a damn turtle. You can feather the motion(slow enough not to trigger dashing though) and then move back way faster than you normally could otherwise while still able to block/jump/attack unlike dashing.
