I'll ask the stupid question then.

My understanding: The only difference betweeen a regular cam and a performance cam is the lobe shape, which sets the timing.

Initial cost result: No difference. Just as cheap to mass produce one or the other.

Long term result: More power and performance, no loss in any system or reliability at all.

Then why do Toyota and Honda,
1. Both advertise their HP, performance, and reliability
2. Both build millions of camshafts
3. But have a huge array of aftermarket performance cams

If it's a completely free lunch with nothing but gains, why don't Toyota and Honda just put better cams in when they build their cars? I can't believe that some 3-man shop can best Toyota and Honda's huge engineering departments by such a huge margins that Toyta and Honda haven't been able to catch up in 10 years?

I still go back to the free lunch. Everything in the engines is designed to worth together for power, efficiency, and long life. When you make an outside change to that to gain in one area, you can expect a change somewhere else.

I'm not being a smart alec and again, I have a Calmini cam. But the Free Lunch arguement isn't passing my sniff test.

I love my Jacob's Ignition. I get more power and slightly better mileage. But I change my cap, rotor, plugs, and wires more. If I don't, the cap/rotor will short out and strand me before the recomended 30k miles comes up. This I've learned the hard way (2 strandings). And when I pull the plugs out, I can see they are getting worn away faster. There went my free lunch.