Dr.Jeff
True Classic
Very well stated. It would definitely matter on the intended use of the car and how it is built.The important questions are:
* how much strength does the box section add
* does it really need it
For example, one of my builds is really only for looks. Air suspension to be able to slam it as low as possible, modifications to the body work simply for for aesthetics, changes to the many of the vehicle's systems to allow for other "customization". On this one I definitely don't care about performance, handling, or functionality beyond getting me to the car shows. It will probably never go much over 40-50 MPH, only on local streets.
My other build will be a track day car. Completely gutted, full performance mods, all business and technically not road legal (but I will keep plates on it...we don't have inspections here). In time I may even go complete tube chassis with it, who knows.
So contrast those two examples and ask how much a little chassis stiffening matters on each. Very different answers. And there are others who use their X's for daily commutes, or some only for the very rare Sunday afternoon drive down Pacific Coast Hwy with the wife, or some are 100% original perfect show cars, or even the rough 'rat-rust' basher that gets thoroughly abused. All will have their own definition of how much structural integrity is needed.
So maybe there is no one right answer, other than "it depends".