A normalized Early effect (y-axis) versus emitter degeneration voltage VE = IA×R (x-axis). Note that just 50 mV reduces Early by 3:1. That's indeed a "long way"!
Figure 3. A normalized Early effect (y-axis) versus emitter degeneration voltage VE = IA×R (x-axis). Note that just 50 mV reduces Early by 3:1. That's indeed a "long way"!