Thanks everyone for the feedback! I did some asking around outside of CVOHarley.com too and the conclusion I am coming to is that if the varying the lift arm ratio gets you valve train properties you seek for your specific intake system, there is NO difference between changing the rocker arms or changing the cams.
I do understand the question of why would you do this, if cams are readily available for your application, but when you’ve already changed the cams, lifters, and pushrods it seems like a good choice to not disturb all of that again if a rocker arm change accomplishes the same thing during a new head installation. Changing just the rockers arms, instead if the cams is not a money saver either, as higher ratioed rocker arms are about the same cost as cams. All you really save are re-disturbing parts that have newly found their happy place, a little bit of labor cost, and the usual upgrade to roller rockers that tend to come with the higher ratioed arms.
My head builder, rrcycle.com, is going to let me know how to proceed…new cams or new rocker arms. Bottom-line though, the engine does NOT care, cams or different ratioed rocker arms provided you get the correct valve lift and timing for your intake setup.
Thanks,
dnlpnd