They are a bit out dated as you said, Weber carbs were down on power as compared to running 3 Holley's.
Mike Kirby had told me you can get 194 head to flow good & you do not cut into water jackets as the Hedrick 320 CFM head did.
Mr Hotrod6 has proven the 194 head can work w/the help from Twisted6.
Just because racers from the past did not like the 194 head to race with does not mean a newer generation of racers cannot find new ways to improve a head to work better.