Totally agree that they are big, heavy and in stock form don't flow much. Performance parts are expensive if they are even available. Valvetrain angles are wonky so not the greatest for high rpm use.
But the neat part is the advanced design for the 1950s. The port arrangement and chamber are similar to the modern hemi. It has dual quench pads and canted valves. It does not suffer from flow stall like the wedge head. The engine likes 30 degrees of total timing compared to the 35-36 that a wedge head needs. Volumetric efficiency can be better than a wedge head. Very little valve shrouding. No pushrod pinch. Head can be ported to make north of 500hp with a broad, flat torque curve. Block is a little stouter than the 318LA block. It has its advantages. Dollars per HP is not one of them.
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I bet there's 5 cfm of trash on the walls. That would get it all the way to 178!