I'm not real smart when it comes to cams (or much else for that matter
),but different cams have different ramp rates and other variables that make hp at different rpms levels and have different idle characteristics......
I make my decisions based on what I'm going to do with the car....... for my street car I wanted a "hot" driveable motor with good a good idle (had one with way too big a cam and it was a "dog" to drive around),I used a cam with only .484 lift,it was/is a cam with a lot of low end torque,advertised for RV's and towing,makes a lot of power from idle to about 5500 rpms,has a smooth 800 rpm idle,but stand on it and it gets up to 5500 rpms real fast,just right for me and a street car,love it,would not change a thing on this motor.............
For my race car,I'm using a solid roller with almost .600 lift and a lot of duration,idles at 1100 rpms,single plane intake and it makes it's power from about 3000rpms on to about 7000rpms,just right for a non-street legal race car,love that cam for it's intended use............
All depends on what you do with the car and BTW,I really do not worry about hp and dyno numbers that much,what it is,is what it is,as long as I'm happy with the car/motor combo I do not pay much attention to the numbers.......My street car makes only 350 hp (351-W) and I've run and beat many cars at the drag strip with 100 to 150 more hp,you got to get it to the ground to use it and with my set-up,I can put the 350 hp to the ground and use it all when other cars are burning their tires on the starting line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's nice to have a high hp engine,you gotta be able to use it,I prefer to be able to drive it and enjoy it rather than fight with a "lumpy" idle,overheating motor..........
Just my thoughts..........
David