Not really as easy of a question to answer within the context you want. Might as well compare the way things smell to different folks.
The original DAO pistols (machined sears, hammers & triggers), predating the TSW line, had a shorter trigger stroke than the later DAO design (which used MIM sears, hammers & triggers). Some of the older DAO models might come with a lighter main spring, too.
The hammer is 'located' (staged) to the rear by the sear nose when the pistol is charged (slide retracted to load a round), which allows the hammer's throw notch to rotate forward and engage with the drawbar. This controls the position of the trigger and the subsequent length of the trigger stroke required to fire the pistol.
The older slides were longer in the rear and allowed the older DAO hammers to be located more to the rear (or 'cocked' more, so to speak) which made for a subsequently shorter trigger stroke than the newer style design. How much shorter? I've not bothered to measure it, but most folks who shoot both DAO models seem able to recognize the difference.
The MIM and machined hammers and sears can't be mixed in the same pistol because improper contact between the assemblies would result. Machined hammers must be used with machined sears and MIM hammers must be used with MIM sears.
There are some other differences when it comes to the frames, but that gets off into other things. Things like whether a spring is required under the firing pin safety lever (and a 'spacer' sear release lever is needed) and at which point the disconnector must be installed in the frame comparing the TDA and DAO models.
The new style MIM DAO parts can be used to change a 3rd gen TDA (DA/SA) pistol into a DAO variation. (And the shorter TDA slides needed to have the DAO hammers located less far to the rear, which mechanically made for a subsequently longer trigger stroke.)
Regardless of which DAO design is being used, if the trigger isn't allowed to "recover" (return forward) to the point necessary for the hammer to be located to the rear by the sear nose so it can be positioned to properly engage with the drawbar, the gun isn't going to function properly (meaning you can 'short stroke the DAO trigger of either design in much the same way you can short stroke a DA revolver).
"Vigorous reset", using the Glock as an example? During the reset of the Glock design the connector spring snaps outward over the tail of the trigger bar. This vigorous snapping of the connector spring makes a loud noise. It occurs very close to the rear of the slide and there's enough of a gap between the frame, slide and slide end cap to seemingly make the noise more apparent to the shooter if they're specifically looking for it. It can also be felt (even with the slide removed from the frame during an armorer inspection) and I suspect this is probably what most folks construe as the 'reset' point in the Glock's trigger recovery. I'd think that the recovery/reset of the S&W DAO involves a bit less of an audible and tactile mechanical sensation.
If I had time I'd try to take a couple of pictures and post them showing the relationship of the parts to each other.
Does this help answer your question a little, or did I muddy the waters even more?
