Poly Engine what was good/bad about it and why is the LA better?

Funny because all the more advanced v8's that replaced the LA-based Magnums have nearly the identical twisted-wedge poly-esque chamber & valve arrangement.
The Poly head design is a good one. The breathing is very good. But the Poly ports are restrictive and the head is not going far in porting. A fella on FBBO did a hell of a job on his. Not for normal car guys for it was a bit unconventional.

The newer head? 4.7? That I believe is also a like the Poly head.

Im not sure why the Poly didn’t catch on. There are no performance head parts for them. Only recently headers.