My opinion:
having quads closer to each intake port simply decreases the time air takes to get from the throttle body when opened, into the heads. very popular in the NA world when you get instant response, but as mentioned above, you constantly have air pushing on the throttle body so it doesn't make as much of a difference. i genuinely don't think you will notice any difference between some fandangled custom manifold and a stock one if it sits in a workshop for months on end. I know mine feels almost as fast as it did 6 months ago :P

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MY93 Impreza GX 1.8L, 0hp, 0nm