You're wrong about timing control not benefitting a street car. Timing is way more important on a street car than on some straightline limited use car. Dragracers are the ones that usually don't care/know/need how to properly set timing because something around 36° degrees advance is all they'll usually care about.
But if one doesn't care to get involved with the engine's timing needs and the current distributor is running 'fine', then don't opt for timing control.
You also don't need such a (stupid) large GM-style distributor to be able to use a HEI-ignition.
A simple Mopar electronic distributor can trigger a HEI-module just fine and run without a ballast resistor with a more modern (better) coil.
