Okay most the replies here are not really an answer, heh.
The STOCK plates are a marketing snafu on Ford's part. While other manufactures proudly advertise such tech in their motors (Infinity, Acura, etc) Ford really was clueless. The engineers put them in there for a reason, two actually.
1) They improve fuel econ marginally
2) They improve bottom end torque allowing for a more linear torque curve.
It's actually a nifty piece of tech. It allows the engine to deliver a more linear power curve and save you some gas.
Now for the downside....
For drag racers and people who generally care about WoT only type of running they can be a bad thing. Mainly because they do obstruct airflow. And as we all know, us muscle car guys go crazy over air flow. We'd port and polish our own a$$ holes if we new it would make our cars go faster.
So get them if you are all about making max power on the dyno and getting all you can get for that last leg at the drag strip.
Don't get them if you want a more linear responsive motor for daily driving around town. They will actually give you a better feeling and performing car for city driving. Your car will always feel like it's pulling hard from and stand still on up through the gears...in city driving conditions.