Insolation is much worse overall, especially with histroically low albedo and around the solstice. But storms are worse for thin ice about to melt out, and hasten its visible demise, thus make for good headlines
The CAB didn't show much effect because the ice was still thick, and because new ice was imported to replace the thinner ice that did melt out.
In general the events of the last few weeks prove again why volume and area matter more than extent, which is simply the rearrangement of ice. Back in July the 1 million advantage in extent was worth less than appeared at the time, and now the thin wispy ice spread across large parts of the Chukchi and Beaufort and elsewhere is worth much less than extent would have us believe. Extent really matters only in September, when ice rearrangement can lead to new extent records given the right area data.