Unless there is an electronic “box” that’s providing some sort of “curve”, everyone running a crank trigger has the timing locked out.
So? Does that mean it’s what the engine really wants? I doubt it, as most engines I know want a curve of some sort.
Street cars, yes. Different animal.
Drag race. Lock it down. Set it at the max number. Control retard from there.
Digital/programmable ignition, timing controls, Grid, chips, whatever. Sometimes retard is needed or desired. Tire management, starting, high gear - do it electronically so you can control it. That's how most are doing it now.
I'm talking drag race, big cam stuff. Got tired of trying to make stuff idle and respond from idle years ago, because that's how they said you should do it. Never looked back. Big rollers, clean, crisp idle, in gear at 700RPM, with great response, all day long if you want.
