The EFI myth

EFI has no change on net peak power. NONE. Air and fuel in is power out. If anything EFI will make more power in the midrange and in general due to better fuel accuracy and immediate changes in throttle application, and a throttle body is guaranteed to flow more air with no annular boosters or venturi (which is, by definition, a restriction). Dial in that carb and then go drive up Longs peak and you'll see what I mean. Not much power when it's pig rich and fouling plugs.

EFI isn't about reliability, either. The carb is more mechanically simple but the carb also doesn't handle variations in temperature, air pressure/altitude, etc like EFI does. I've had more issues with flooded carbs and vapor lock than I've ever had any issues with EFI.

EFI was driven by emissions but that's NOT why we love it.

EFI and it's superior fuel control allows cool things like low tension rings and reduced fuel wash, which is why EFI motors last so much longer. Many 100k engines still have that factory cross hatch in it, and that's why so many late model engines are such great donors. Your oil changes can go further and your fuel economy does improve.

Is that carburetor cost savings over EFI cheaper than an engine rebuild?

Get your head out of the clouds (which is probably smog from those carbs), EFI is superior.

But I still love carbs more because I get to fingerbang all those adjustment screws and feel like I did something :)