Even now, Star Wars figures have all over articulation. The Clone Wars line doesn't count because it's aimed at kids and they need the playability. Heh.
The Vintage Collection is one of the first to have a pretty standard articulation on almost all the figures. The Legacy Collection was notorious for having wonky articulation. Some figures would be super articulated, while others (who would need the SA) were missing ankle joints.
For the Marvel Universe figures, the initial molds seem to have been a learning curve for Hasbro. They've adapted some, and upgraded certain style mold that need it. Thanos and WWHulk come to mind for sure. Now, if they'd only do something about that god awful female body they have.