Were small-tube boilers fuel hungry?

Is it a myth that small-tube boilers were fuel hungry?

It depends on the design. Plants optimized for rapid acceleration and high speed could consume heavily, while long-range installations could use the same general boiler type efficiently.

Small-tube boilers did not form one uniform performance category. Burner arrangement and the way heat was generated strongly affected consumption. A ship expected to raise steam and accelerate rapidly accepted a more intense, less economical burn. An endurance-focused vessel could increase power more gradually and obtain better fuel economy from a plant designed around range.