Actually the performance of the heat shield is the same as it used to be, and has less foam striking it. Just that now they do several highly detailed inspections of every single inch of the shuttle in orbit.
Also they do a spacewalk to fix anything even slightly askew. Before the Columbia re-entry disaster they wouldn't even have known until post-flight inspections.
Well, it's 24 extra flying hours without using a drop more fuel!
In reality of course, it's 24 hours of sitting there wondering about whether the heat shield is damaged or not, and remembering the crew of the Columbia.
Not a position I'd envy - although for a chance to fly in STS, I think I'd put up with a lot!
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