those are interesting points. there was no outer booster ring on the 1000cfm CS TQ.
but there was an outer booster ring on the 850 CS TQ.
spray bar holes- it appears the Aerosol carb design may use them, to fill the entire carb throat with a more even distribution of fuel.
TQ vs Qjet dyno test- they tried to copy the early CS TQ1000, by modifying a later 72-up TQ model 6322. However, unless the size of the air bleeds in the lid of the 6322 were reduced down to same size as CS TQ carbs, the comparison is not fully valid-
I agree with your speculation, that was my point exactly...
reason: MASSIVE air bleed difference, between early 69-71 CS TQ, and later 72-up OEM TQ. the later 72-up carbs used 2x more air bleed for the primary/secondary main metering circuits, in addition to adding two more air bleeds downstream in the idle circuit that are HUGE. Don't forget about the big air bleed in the top nose of the fuel nozzle, the old CS didn't even have one there.
72-up TQ's need to be richened up. there's no doubt in my mind, if the air bleeds were at least made somewhat smaller, the carb would wake up. I'd start with the same size the 69-71 CS TQ had, then work bigger from there. That extra large idle circuit bleed on the top toward front of carb, that is angled upward/backward, possibly can be blocked completely- because there's still the idle air bleed down in the cavity facing rearward, by the metering rods area. Why have 2 idle air bleeds per side, when the 69-71 CS TQ only had one ?
or....block the idle bleed down in the cavity, and just run the top idle bleed. the top one would be easy to d/t and screw in an adjustable bleed.
The 72-up carbs even SOUND lean, kick them open it sounds like someone left the power brake booster hose off, a hissing sound of air being sucked in, like they're lean. cuz they are lean !! lean as hell.
the Holley being aftermarket HP carb, had no emissions type metering.
the early pre-'75 Qjet, were not as compromised as the 72-up TQ carbs. Qjets were metered relatively rich up to/including 1974. an early 800 Qjet is a mean running mother, I ran them, and rebuilt many. Qjet may be down 50-75cfm compared to a CS TQ, but it's not really enough to matter on the street, or track, everything else being the same. they're just so wickedly responsive !