Jim, you are indeed correct. I know for a fact that straightening the valve angles was the hot setup for a while to alleviate that, however shady way it was being done. However, a well known AH builder told me recently that they've since gotten away from that, to some extent. The advancement in camshaft profiles seem to make sense.

To a ham and egg racer, like most of us are, though, it doesn't make much of a difference.