A couple of quick notes to AJ:
My intake is NOT an air-gap. The air-gap version was not available in 'Mopar' (IIRC) when I was manifold shopping. Yes, now it is. I did ask the question: "Will an air-gap help... with hot soak issues" some time back. I was sure the answer would be, 'Of course!'. That was NOT the general response...which WAS, 'Probably not'. I still want one. The enduro-shine is TOO glittery for me...and the epoxied-black one seems counter productive heat-wise.
I ran one'a those 292º/108ºs for years. WICKed, nasty beast it is! Not much different in the numbers from the Hughes 3844 but when it comes to comparing the two...somebody's numbers are LYing!
Fresh air: I have a 5" bracket style backwards mounted scoop with a 5" velocity stack on the carb. That's a whole 'nother air-flow matter...but with surveyor tape bits on the opening of the scoop I 'see' air getting sucked INto the engine compartment.
Re: "The solution is to leave the slot exposure high enough to not get the stumble, and instead, just retard the stinking Idle timing."
Now THAT is a 'balance' statement I can get behind.
That adjustable PCV from Wagner is $130...but their website speaks of 'for vacuum 7-11" using their 'light' spring. I'll be lucky to get 7" now..but that might all change if the PCV indeed gets restricted. Is it worth it? On a thread (not here) when someone used one, he answered that question with: 'Is it worth $130 or whatever? If this kind of thing annoys you? Absolutely.' ...his issue was not timing/idle-related..but his answer fits.