Brought Dart to shop to fix idling issue and car runs like s**t!

I never understood why, but when I used to go to alot of car shows and cruise nights, etc where many people have their hoods up for all to see, how many capped off vacuum advance units I saw..... First, vacuum comes from the other end, nothing leaks from the vac advance when it is disconnected, so why does everyone cap the vac advance can? And 2nd, why do so many people not run vac advance?
The only way this makes sense is on a fixed speed setup like an engine running a pump or an industrial machine or a generator, etc. (Not the capped off advance can, but the limiting of amount of advance)
I've had the same experience. I don't know if its cause these people don't put many miles on their cars or what. Is it a point of pride to brag about getting 7 miles per gallon? Not for me!!!