It stands to reason that saving weight in the valvetrain should bring some benefit. Matt made no claim of what that might be, only that the backlash gears are there to reduce noise and are not really needed. The noise is a rattle at idle, not a loud rattle, and you don't hear it above idle. You will however hear it rattle more loudly if you lug the motor too much. It looks wierd when you assemble it too because the cam gears are not in the center of the drive gear.
Scott

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Scott- ATL