Would you like me to hypothosize?
The primary concern with torque is port velocity.
In an EFI car keeping port velocity high requires long runners. The extra volume afforded by the long runners sheilds the incoming air from the turbulence created when the intake valve opens and closes, thus creating a more stable and smooth flowing intake charge and helping to keep port velocity high. The very inefficient upper intake design probably limits the ultimate flow capability of the intake. Short runner intakes flow a lot of air because of the low surface area the air has to travel through and a more direct link to the air source. They have large runners designed to flow high volume, and that slows the port velocity.
On a carbed car fuel is atomized above the lower intake, which would give greater mass and stability to the intake charge. The short intakes don't hold a great deal air and are probably designed more conservatively since they have little room to change the airflows direction. The small overall volume of air would increase the port velocity. Using a tall intake on a carbed car would probably result in a larger overall capacity and flow capability, along with the ability to straighten runners. The cost? Huge masses of air which would slow port velocity to a crawl.
Just some thoughts. I suppose I could research it more, but there are few sources that I have at my disposal for the moment. As of right now, I'm just guessing really.
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