Air Fittings

Do you guys use high-flow air fittings on your air system? I'm wondering if they're a worthy investment for some tools like hvlp spray guns and such.
I'd like to see some real data on how much they actually increase flow. The diameter and length of the feed pipes are a much bigger concern than 1 1/2" of reduced diameter at the coupling. Have you ever looked inside a ball valve? The opening is fairly smaller than the size of the pipe but because it is short in length, it doesn't have a significant effect on flow.