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

The 318 Poly; brilliant design.
One of the few engines out of Detroit where the port sizing, cam specs etc came together to make a spectacular performer. Driving one, it felt more like 418 cubes instead of 318...
The poly was handicapped with a low 9:1 CR, but still showed tail lights to many a Chebby or Ferd.
Many Dodges & Plymouths were sold here with Polys. All were 2 bbl. Aussie car magazine writers were none to kind to 'Yank Tanks'. But the poly.... They raved about them. I still have magazine road tests where terms like 'Road Rocket', 'Blistering Performance' were used to describe them. A 58 Belvedere was timed at 118 mph, Poly with a 2bbl. They couldn't believe it...
I remember a mate of mine had a 59 Belv poly with a lot of miles on it, kept oiling up a plug, so only running on 7 1/2 cyl. He had a mate with a Falcon with a 302 taken out to 312 cubes. The Falcon would have been 300-500 lbs lighter. They had a drag race & at 80 mph, the Falcon driver looked out his window...& saw a red front fender next to his door. Nuff said!