That kinda confirrms that curropted gems can appear bigger, But are not stronger than their former selfs. In "gem hunt" I like how Jasper brings fear to the curropted Quartz. And when Pearl poofed in "Steven the sword fighter" it was a sword, sharp and focused.
When enough force is aplyed to a single spot a Gen is mist likley to poof is what i think. That exmplains why Peridot can survive so much punishment-. But when Garnet crushed only a part of her she poofed, ( Yea, and dont forget that the G-squad have Quartz level strenght.)