Much of this really comes down to a simple question: how do you know whether or not the fact you're not detecting any differences is the result of those differences not existing versus some inability on your part to detect such things? I'm new enough at this that I can't presume any real ability on my part to tell the difference in terms of handling between two different configurations (the fact that I couldn't tell much of a difference between the stock dampers and these plus camber plates in terms of handling, save for the fact that the current configuration seems to be more neutral in corners as evidenced by the fact that I was able to get the rear to come out enough to demand countersteering just by lifting the throttle enough, is some indication that I don't yet have such ability). How do you know if you're skilled enough to tell the difference? And if you're not yet skilled enough to tell the difference, how will you know when you get to the point that you
are skilled enough? It's not like you have some instrument to tell you that there is a real and consistent difference in cornering capability, particularly if your driving isn't terribly consistent. My lap time differences on the real track are measured in
seconds when I bother to have them measured at all (and part of that may be the result of things like encountering traffic), but it sounds like most of the changes that people make result in tenths of a second difference per lap. I frankly haven't a clue how you tell whether or not a change makes for any improvement when the lap time difference is that small.
That's why my initial focus was on setting the car up properly "by the numbers", because that would be a way to get me something reasonably good that I can continue to learn with. If I ever get good enough that my lap times vary by hundredths of a second, then and only then could I reasonably consider myself good enough to tell the difference by lap time whether or not a change I made was detrimental or beneficial, as it would only then be that a lap time difference in the tenths of a second range would be reliably detectable. And that still doesn't address the question of whether or not you'd be able to tell the difference by feel. I suppose if, when your driving is that consistent, you can tell the difference in lap time but not in feel, you'll know that your ability to feel differences isn't up to snuff yet.
It's entirely possible that I'll never get to the point where I can feel the difference from changes made to the car. I say this because I'm also a private pilot, and despite having nearly 1000 hours of flight time, I still can't tell by the seat of my pants whether the airplane is in
coordinated flight or not. I have to look at the instruments for that. Most pilots are able to feel such things. I cannot. But I know from experience that I
can feel some things in the car, such as the wiggle in the rear end during braking into turn 2 at Laguna Seca when the track is damp that tells me that any more braking pressure and the car will come around on me. So I know from experience that there's some hope for me yet.