Great post.
I've used them and the saws have run great, but I haven't had the time to port two jugs, side by side, and test the difference.
The only saws I've done in sequence with/without was a pair of 026. But the one with the bridges had slightly different transfer timing.
They ran about the same, truth be told.
But smaller cylinder bores have much less effective scavenging area and bridges/fingers don't give the same gain (if there is any) as in larger jugs-most builders agree with that.
We may have a Dyno at the CT GTG. If I can get my arse in gear, I may be able to have a pair of 036 with the same timing and squish cut. I can do the next without the bridges. But...., unless I just swap jugs, there can be slight differences in the muffler outlets, carb jetting, ignition timing, etc, to make it a true test.
All variables would have to be eliminated to test side by side.