Oh for sure. I guess (with anything car related really) we all fight that fine line with the cars, in regard to response v power, and realistically we all want the most of both, but naturally need to give up one for the other (with most leaning to HP).
Thnk of this for example:
A stock t25 car, lets say with the basics (370cc, walbro 255, stock ecu) at 14 psi of boost will make roughly 240 whp. This will max the injectors, ecu, and maf all at the same time.
Now take that same t25 car, but now bring the boost back down to 7-8 psi, but add a set of S3 JWT cams (260 duration, but 11.5 lift). These will work just fine without a retune, but now if you log the car, you'll notice thta your fuel cycle, and your maf are pegged, yet again you'll see that same 240-250 whp at stock boost levels.
If you overlay the two powerbands, you get an odd comparison - the t25 (lets face it) isn't known for top end...yet with the addition of some medium sized cams, you'll all of a sudden gain much more torque for a longer period of time, and more HP to redline, BUT (as you point out) at the loss of some response (at this rate we'll say 500 rpm).
But if you were to take the average power and torque figures form the stock cam vs JWT cam car, you'll see that the JWT (or even HKS 264, or Tomei 256, or similar) will have significantly more average power than the stock cams. So now, even though the powerband is obviously shifted to the top end, and even though you loose some grunt, the car will have more average power across the rev range; this all translates to a car with cams being faster, and quicker.
Now if you were to compare time slips, there is no doubt the stock cam car will probably make it to the 330' mark maybe a hair faster, and maybe even at the 1/8th, but at the end, the cammed car will be significantly ahead (and obviously with a higher trap).
So with all of this also considered, lets also factor in 'traction'. Sure it's nice to claim to have some low end, but now we also are battling traction (which is another conversation in itself haha). Is it worth having that 500 extra RPM of spool, only to blow the rear tires off? Undoubtedly the car with cams will not hit initially as hard, be a bit soft, yet through a mechanical traction control (of sorts, with the 'less torque generating) cams, the cammed car will take off and pounce ahead. THis applies to all motorsport, including (dare I say) street racing. The fastest car has the most power per traction, so even a turbo that spools off the hit, may not be the quickest.
Lastly, you also need to look at usable powerband of the car. I know on track, I don't see much, if any time below 3500 rpm...at that rate, any time my car is 'rolling' I'm already above the gains to be had by a responsive turbo and it's etra torque below useable area. In drag racing, most cars are leaving at 4000+ on slicks. Add LC, and now the turbo is already spooled, furhter negating the benefits of stock cams. Drifting is all about high RPM 's, and even when you look at how a car works on the street, you're never going to 'go' at 2500 rpm ya know?
(whew sorry for being long winded, I Just like car discussion...it's neat to get differing thoughts on the same thing, to furhter my knowledge
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