SBM Edelbrock/Speedmaster Head Data

An interesting side note to your last paragraph is the W5 head has the bolt boss right across from the guide.

That little bump, like the pushrod pinch forces what air there is along that wall over to the guide.

And when it does (man I miss my notes) it pushes the air across the guide and into the common wall.
That is something I need to try. I've seen pictures of a tubed bolt boss protruding well into the chamber. I think Brian even posted one here a while back.