The vanes don't add restriction, they are a response to the added restriction created by the NVH initiatives to quiet the air intake, the design of the intake tract, and air available to the stock air box. It was possible to pull the filter minder down some at even the stock boost levels. An added 5 psi guaranteed it was pulling down halfway until the air box itself was modded.
In the stock configuration they aided maximizing the airflow available. That available air flow was still less than a more open intake was capable of. Speed up the flow and the dynamics of the flow change. Did it completely negate the function of the vanes? Hard to tell without so very sophisticated measurments and testing.
Boost rise was quicker, not a huge jump but it was quicker. Evem the SOP meter said gutting the TQ tube, removing the vanes, and opening the airbox made a difference. That was noticeable not only on the dyno but in typical driving situations.
A net overall increase in power on the dyno is almost always going to translate to daily driving. There is little difference between WOT and 3/4 throttle with the way the fuel curves are applied. Its definitely not the same as a 12V and mechanical linkage. The CR's have a more tightly controlled curve based not only on the APPS but also boost and rpm's.
More air faster is going to impact no matter where you are comparing.
There is a HUGE difference between "30% more turbo efficiency" and "30% better throttle response" or even "30% drop in restriction". The only thing they have in common is 2 digits and 1 character. What they represent are totally different areas.
Then you have consider 30% better than what? Stock? No intake tract? A 24V? The HE351 is 30% more efficient than an HX or HY35, maybe thats the comparison they were making. Without a context its just more unsubstantiated noise, not any hard data that can be relied upon.
