Wondering If you guys could shed some light on some advice I received..

[BigBlocksRule]

I can't see how even a crappy set of long tube headers wouldn't flow better than good exhaust manifolds. Manifolds can't scavenge effectively, it's not in the design. I've NEVER had an engine lose power when I added headers, either cheap or expensive, they all picked up.
Find a set of long tubes, tweak 'em when you fit 'em, then send 'em to Nitroplate for a good ceramic coating.
Forget shorties, they're not worth the time or money it takes to put 'em on, very little difference over stock manifolds, IMHO.