115" heating element

Family friend is replacing water heater element for my mother (I'm too far away). The water heater is a large Toronto John Wood from ~1980 (I believe it's a different company than the John Wood you find today) and still in good shape aside from the elements.

I'm told the bottom element is a massive 115" element. 4500w.

Does anyone make something like this today? Is there any significant downside to using a regular element?