[Gaz64]

I'll take my Holden hat off that I've worn all my mechanic working life, now 34 years.

AFM (formally known as DOD - displacement on demand) is a great theory and does work well UNTIL an AFM lifter rotates in the poorly designed lifter guide.

And it will happen, seen a few failures.

Then it is heads off and camshaft change.

Each to their own about petrol direct injection, but the new Gen 5 is the next step forward (or back in some eyes) for emissions.
The hard fact is proof in pudding. The inlet valves are more prone to carbon buildup with no fuel sprayed at them.
To have high flowing cylinder heads ex factory that carbon up and lower potential airflow into the cylinder is backwards step.
Current port EFI engines can stay almost as new on high quality PULP.