That's actually not true; they were able to conduct simultaneous launch and recovery with a straight flight deck. However, the procedure changed with the cantilever deck.



With a straight flight deck, when the LSO gave you the 'cut' signal, you cut your throttle, and if you didn't catch a wire, you hit the net barrier; trying to 'save' it by pushing the throttle would bounce you over the barrier and into the planes parked on the forward flight deck. But hitting the barrier was almost guaranteed to damage your plane.



With a cantilever deck, when you hit the flight deck, you open the throttle all the way; if you snag a wire, you're brought up short, and you chop your throttle. If you didn't catch a wire, you've got your throttle open full and a clear line ahead to accelerate back to flying speed; you're a 'bolter', and can go around and make another approach.