my point of contention is that some people just want a nice little cruiser. it doesn't have to be all ricky-racer burning up the tires, just something that's not a wheeze bag. starts easy, runs smooth, has a little more oomph and is still okay on gas.
yes, a converter and gears will absolutely wake right up a motor and set you back in the seat. and that's great if that's what you're looking for. but in that same breath, not everybody has the dough or the ability to do that work. an intake & carb swap is super low lift along with re-curving the distributor and for a lot of people that's within their budget and skill set. coincidentally, that would probably meet their expectations as well.
