Factory old iron just can't compete ... ??

No positive I get what you are asking. If you are asking what an after market small and big block will take both will go over 1000 horsepower.
At what hp level would you start shopping for an aftermarket block over stock you gave a general performance level examples just trying to translated them into hp numbers.

You said 8's seems to be where bbm guy's are needing aftermarket, is that around 800 + hp or more like 900 + hp engines ? Same with sbm you said that wouldn't be the best idea to run victor, W7,8,9 is that like saying 650 + hp or more like 700 + hp engines.

Obviously not trying to get you to write the hp limit in stone but trying to get your general sense of the hp limit, it's kind of hard since you don't like talking in hp :)