You are absolutley right about one thing and IMO, one thing only. That it is an opinion thing. I've argued this point on several forums, and I find it's about a 50/50 on which way to do it. My way is opposite of yours as I'm sure somewhere in this thread I"ve explained already. Vac Advance is to be hooked to ported vacuum period. Racing app, Street App, Centrifical advance or not. I know I'll never change anyone's opinion who strongly beleive the way they do, but I do explain, if your going to hook to manifold vacuum and not ported, then why not just set your initial timing to what it would be hooked to manifold vacuum and be done, cuz that is essentially all you are doing, is increasing or advancing the timing, then you romp on the motor and lose vacuum, then you are RETARDING the timing while romping on the motor when you should actually want to be ADVANCING timing to romp on the motor and expect performace gain. It's just backwards to hook to manifold.
SO, I've had to stop and give thought to WHY in the hell do some people think hooking it up wrong works??? It has to make sense one way or another or 50% of the people wouldn't think it's right, when clearly ALL auto manufacturers clearly explain to use ported vac, and disconnect it while setting initial timing and for a reason. So I figure what is happening, those who do it this way are setting initial timing. Hook to manifold vac and get advanced timing with a FALSE POSITIVE or performance gain, and when they nail the pedal and romp on it, they actuallly LOSE or RETARD timing which keeps the motor from pinging. So I do see why they think it helps in performance, but who needs more performance at idle, or light throttle??? That is the only scenario I can think of.

But, I"ll always use ported vacuum and those who see different and more than welcome to hook to manifold vac. I'm not going to knock anyone for hooking it how they wish. It just makes a good topic argument for gearheads.
EDIT : BTW, For racing applicaitons, there is no sense in hooking vac advance up at all. Usually with a big cam, lots of valve ovelap, you don't have engine vacuum to advance it anway. Best to rely on Centrifical advance only with racing counterweights and springs so you can get more advance, and lighter springs to bring on the advance much quicker.