Eric's cam challenge

I'm a retired engineering tech (not specializing in engines) so I think I understand although I'm not sure what your level of understanding of physics is when you talk about the engine knowing things and running off of pressure differential. Delta P is just a means to an end. As we know camshaft theory is complex although doesn't need to be for most people. There are as with everything drawbacks from maximizing aspects of design such as duration, life, area under the curve, etc. A lot more experienced people than you or I came up with the 0.050" number but it is only one measure for helping builders. Rate of lift might be another good number to look at or perhaps a curve. The problem is a squarish lobe would give the best looking curve. Looking at something and knowing what to do with it are 2 different things.
When you mention a "squarish " lobe, I think of the stock eliminator "cheater" cams. Radical rates, confined within fixed lift and duration numbers..... and cams that are incredibly hard on valvetrains and short lived..
But definitely part of how a stock eliminator car can be a couple seconds faster than a real stock car..
(And really an advantage for Chevrolet, because their "advertised" durations were so huge, it made grinding a cheater cam MUCH easier.)