Terence. I am well aware that there is a figure eight type action, or if you like to call it an infinity sign. Also the pendulum type swing that is now combined within the figure eight action. A step is still a step. The latin motion is following the step. With th slower music that is now being played. The hips are being used more than at any time before. Some teacher are even on a Basic movement it is being discribed as a type of cucaracha action.
Something I was told by a person who was a pupil of Wally Laird was that at that time Wally was not in favour of a syncopation step in the Cha on anything other than the syncopation on 4 and 1. He said with the music it is not syncopated on for instance 2 and 3. How times have changed.
Theres another story here from Wally's pupil. He arrived for his first lesson. Knocked on the door just before 10 am . Wally answered dressed in a dressing gown. Yes he said... I'm here for my 10 o clock lesson. Young man I have never taken an am. class in my life. You are twelve hours too early.

I was also a student of Wally... but have to tell you.. long before Cha was devised.. Guajira and Triple Mambo( the template for Cha ) were being danced, and, is STILL being recorded today ( the last CD by Cachao,the inventor of mambo rhythm ) has a Guajira on it, using a 3 and 4 syncop.

Whatever people decide to use is personal choice .. that does NOT make it correct if the music dictates otherwise. In otherwords, knowing the difference between the 2, that to the untrained ear, will probably sound the same .
Add to this, they are 2 different dances .

And yes, there are multi songs that are written with a 4 and 1 syncop... but .. NOT all.

As to motion, the current usage is not remotely close to a natural action... as with most things in B/room Latin, its way over the top !.
If you want to really understand " latin " concepts, you need to study the history of the music and its message .In addition, spend copious amounts of time in their " world ".. only then will you really get to feel what the genre is about .

As I said, the ballroom world is a caricature of the " real " thing .

heres a phrase the latinos use about what the majority of ballroom people dance..

"No alma y corazon "..// their words, not mine .