Andrew R Stewart 

No, the two bearings support the same amount of weight as the loose balled type do, given the same rider and bike weight. What you might be trying to say is that when a weight supporting bearing is moved along the axle the amount it shares with the other bearing changes. Leverage is at play. But the total the two see is still the same, just that the bearing that is closer to the axle/frame's centerline will carry more then the other that's closer to the axle end.

Think about picking up and holding a wood 2x4 that's 8' long. It's easier to hold it evenly in both hands, about 3' each side will stick out beyond the 2' center section (assuming that your hands are 2' apart). Both hands are doing about the same amount of weight bearing. Now move one hand toward the 2x4's center about 1' and the other hand towards the end the same foot. Now that 2x4 is held off center and the hand that's closer to the center has more weight but the other hand closer to the end carries less weight. The total weight, of the 2x4, hasn't changed just how each hand is being used has changed.

The primary reason to have a Shimano like freehub's axle bearing locations is to reduce the bending stress that an uneven bearing placement places on the axle. Freewheeled axles are known for bending, and breaking, at the RH side's bearing cone edge due to more leverage being focused there. Yes there's some bearing life possible improvements too but most all bearing failures are due to preload, maintenance, and lube contamination, not too much weight placed on them. How to seal off the outside world from the bearing's insides is vastly more important to bearing life then where that bearing is located. Interestingly a freewheel RH bearing has a better "seal" that that of the LH side if only because the RH one is further from that outside wheel (being tucked inside/past the freewheel). Andy