^^^
I ride the 7S XL 7.3 (in quad) and whilst not a true short board, for the most part, the handling and ride is more short board than longboard.... (I have both).
I would say, correct me if Im wrong and Im sure people will, lets go with anything under 7.0 is a shortboard.
but what do you call a 9.0 gun?? 
0 to 7 = shortboard
7 to 8.11 = mid length
9 up = longboard
well that just mo 
anything that has a paddle involved = boat/ship
9'8 tanker
9'3 'all rounder'
6'10 Diverse thruster (big guy)
7'2 Simon Anderson (Mollusc robo)
Longboards for small days where glide is more fun
shortboards for punchier waves and getting in then pocket.
I've long since stopped trying to drag the longboard out the back on big days. by the time i've paddled out, my mate has already caught a second wave. Plus I like the feel of a good shortboard right in the pocket, close to the wave's energy.
I also find I hold back in bigger waves on a longboard becuase I am acutely aware of 9ft of glass and fins that might land on top of my head. This makes it more dangerous as hesitation and bigger waves are not good bed fellows.
but in the end, right equipment for the conditions. thats my 0.03cents worth.
In my opinion mid-length boards offer no real advantage over short or long boards. they aren't loose like a shortie but not smooth or able to glide like a longboard. bit of a no-mans land design and performance wise.
Same size as a "mid length board".... 7' 81/2". Please dont tell me someone out there is gonna jump on one of these next!
That'll go good in crap waves 
^^ They should ban those things unless you have no legs imo!! Ive been taken out twice with one bouncing through a line up with no rider/pilot/idiot 
That is a beautiful lineup. I haven't seen one like that for real for so very, very long.
That kayak is outrageous. Can you imagine if that hits someone in waves like that.
Game over.
Unless the waves are punchy/powerful, a Mal suits me fine in small waves. I just never have felt comfortable on a mid length board. but you know that they say about everyone having an opinion 
Not a big fan of kite surfing after seeing one run over my wife over at mainbreak Yalls a few years back. all that ocean. like someone backing into a tree on the Nullarbor.
Wave skis. Dangerous in wrong lineup (i.e. any)
Kayaks (see above)
SUP (river)
