Depends on RPM. Most engines (Can't say EVERY engine because I haven't seen every engine from every era but...let's leave it there) want less timing at peak torque and more timing at peak power.
Where that peak power is will determine how much total you end up with. An engine with peak RPM at 6k won't have as much total as an engine peaking at 7500.
To that end, I'm not sure why being able to reduce timing is a bad thing. You want peak cylinder pressure by 14-18 degrees ATDC. If you have to fire the plug at 40 degrees BTDC you have pretty close to 35ish degrees of crank rotation where chamber pressure is working against making power.
If you can fire the plug on that same engine at say 30 BTDC you have now reduced that negative work by 10 degrees. Of course, that's as long as you still get peak cylinder done by 14-18 degrees ATDC.
Volumetric efficiency affects timing requirements. Not many people would argue that. So think about what a locked out or an all in curve by 2500 power does to power?
Not only are you increasing negative working pressure, all that timing is beating up parts.