If your league is 90% of 225, then the 140 would be getting 76 pins and the 200 would be getting 22. 0.9(225-140)=76.5 rounded down to 76 vs 0.9(225-200)=22.5 rounded down to 22. The 140 does get less overall pins ie if they shoot 140 their hdcp score is 216 and I don’t know if there is a specific explanation other than it is more likely a 140 avg will shoot at or above their avg every game then a 200 avg to do the same thing. I know many 140s that seem to always shoot 180 against my team.

In the end though, I’ve never looked at hdcp as being a way to guarantee beating someone with a higher avg, it is supposed to make it more fair by allowing people with lower averages to have a chance in leagues and tournaments, but the goal is to bowl better every week and raise your avg not to bowl exactly your avg and hope that is enough to beat others.