Yes, and so is header clearance. Not the point. Please go back and read my post more carefully ... where does the oil (that's escaping from those side clearances) come from? That's right, it's already been through the tightest restriction, the bearing clearance. It is NOT an "independent" leak stealing oil directly from the pressurized galleries and dripping it back to the pan!

So the effect of a wide side clearance is very small (if not absolutely negligible) compared to bearing clearance. As many guys who have put Chevy-width rods on Mopar-width cranks have discovered, with plenty of oil pressure.

Meanwhile, go on believing as you please. No point in trying to teach something to people who already "know".