Pretty much the computer is controlling timing from the Crank sensor, cam sensor on startup, knock sensors and TPS, MAF & MAP to calculate load on the engine. That's how I understand it. I agree with what you said above that mine certainly feels like it's pulling out tons of timing when it's bogging and I see spikes on digital boost gauge on the DIC if I floor it while bogging. Looks like intake backfires but I don't hear them. I guess it might be possible for a knock sensor to fail and it be telling the computer to pull tons of timing in this case. Only way to know would be to watch KR when it's happening.