Dan - what a very informative reply and I agree with PaulJ - JFBO, as we (sometimes) say over here!
Your point about Harley engines and pipes rings true with my view of just why the M3Ws are likely to respond well to improved flow. Big V-Twins make best power on short, open pipes - not the 8ft hugely baffled and CAT'd up monsters we have as stock. I'm all for a little more noise, but not shed loads more, hence my idea about a using a proper absorption silencer instead of the current design. In all likelihood, a different 'unlocked' ECU will be required to allow a mapping expert to do their magic and get the most out of the changes.
All very exciting, I must say.