Steve, I know you were making a point that everything doesn't have to be Formula 1 car optimized, and even then, no two guys agree, but I just want to make sure you aren't thinking Brent and I are too far apart, because we generally aren't
First, that cam will be a terror in a 427 with TFS and match your use....period, don't lose a bit of sleep over it. In fact, lash the exhaust .006-.008 tighter if you want to gain a bit of exhaust duration, but regardless I'd expect it to run very strong
Now, what would a custom cam do? As you refine the build, as in talking about a stroker in one post, or even if you went pure custom with the 427, it could change entirely, and depending on goals, it may not just be peak power, it could be more vacuum and give up power if that was the goal. End use always matters when talking cams, possibly more than most any other component. I spend more time on a build to figure out what that "big thing or things" a guy wants an engine to do, and sometimes they don't know
Some custom cams drive more vacuum, some use all the lift, some focus on torque, some focus on pure HP. As initially said, This is a decent lobe design, Crower is nothing to sneeze at, a custom flat tappet may gain in some areas, cost in others, but this is a pretty good match for your combo. If I was going custom and staying flat tappet, I might sneak a little more lift out of a lobe, but then you are likely going to have to swap springs. After a year of playing with TFS, and watching Brent too, I'd likely add some exhaust, but then I would spread centers and add lift too, how much...depends on end use. You can cheat there too, lash is a significant tuning tool
Additionally, you likely would not find a cam like that on Comp's shelf, Crower (like this one) and Howard's oddly enough tend to have a little better design over the SBC generic
There is no free chicken, and a custom cam like Brent provides matches the entire build and use exactly. I do custom choices too, when everything is blueprinted carefully and planned ahead of time, it's hard to beat. That being said, it does support your point "could be that both are right"
