First, the RBV 2.8L is a horrible example. I agree that BEFORE EFI the emissions controls hurt performance and power. The carb engines were not designed to have this stuff in place, they were not tuned for it, and as with any first attempt at something, the systems themselves sucked.
On any engine introduced from about 1986 onward the engines and the controls, and all that are designed to work together as a system.
If you want to whine and cry about emissions controls and you don't want to have them, go buy something pre-1975. In the mean time, since I breath this air too, and I have respiratory issues, stop telling people it is ok to remove the devices that clean up the tail pipe emissions of their vehicles.