Very impressive Mad Props, takes me back to architecture school lol! I do have to criticize that you didn't mention that shear goes to max as moment goes to zero....but none the less impressive on a phone!
I'd actually like to get the lecture on that, shear is a bit fuzzy.....but so was some of architecture school lol!:der: All non architect and engineers can ignore this paragraph
scherfz1 you are spot on, the ribs increase what is know as the effective depth of the member, in this case the plywood, which makes the deck stiffer over the span.
Sopwithcamel you are also correct, basically the same thing, making the effective depth (thickness of the deck) deeper stiffens things up. But it adds weight, where as the fiberglass ribs on the thinner plywood are most likely stiffer and much lighter.
The thicker plywood is for sure easier / cheaper (considering labor). But the ribs can do the same or more and be lighter. Just a matter of cost or time / labor. Neither one is wrong , just depends on what your end goals are.