Each variable knocks out a chunk of the sales market.
You'd have to pick the strongest chunk and then lock in to that.
If you aim to the stock class racers - there goes the 280cfm sales pitch and the modern combustion chamber sales pitch.
You have to make them bone stock.
Thats a Loser
If you aim to the performance rebuilders , you lose the stock class racers.
Oh Well
Really & Truly the only Dport head in short supply is the 1968 #31 Ram1 head.
Those guys can get what they need from somewhere else, just maybe not in their same neighborhood or at a Upull-It anymore.
I'm guessing your 280cfm intake port is going to be based off a Ram4 intake port and require Ram4 gasket. No biggy
What is the Dport exhaust port going to flow ?
What is the ratio ? Is it optimal ?
Its going to cost the same to produce a Ram3 variant head as it will to produce a Ram4 variant head.
Okay , I need to phone a friend to see which of those I should buy - at the Same Price.
Give me a few extra minutes in case I need a 2nd or 3rd opinion.
Hello Sam , a guy has new Ram3 and new Ram4 heads , same price , which ones should I buy ?
Well ... All my Pontiac buddies are saying I can buy 4-6 sets of good Dport heads for what 1 set of Roundports will cost.
Case Closed
You aren't looking to sell to #s restorers , you are looking for mass market appeal.
You just created the missing link that has been missing for over 40 years.
I want roundports on Everything , the way it should have been from the start.
Affordable roundports (if that is even imaginable) would be a goose laying golden eggs.
Edelbrock was/is too greedy - they missed most of us by a mile.
Speedos have jumped up in price - they are going to miss hitting the majority of us too.
I don't even want aluminum heads - might consider them if they were about half of what their cost is.
maybe.
So you lose a few sales to the market who can't get long-branch roundport manifolds.
Okay , if that was such a strong market - the manifolds would have remained present.
Affordable version of heads will drive the exhaust manifold market upward and outward.
None of the aluminum heads have hit that nail.
History shows they never will.
aka what Olds heads sell for .... as example .
I think a 280cfm Dport with modern chambers and choice of cc's - could fly.
But the same thing in Roundports - Would Fly .
Would fly higher and further
Outsell all the Edelbrocks ever made 10:1 - at minimum
Completely different audience.