well, I think the concern is there, but it sounds like SlowM90 is the only case that actually caused engine hydrolock and/or damage from taking water in.
SpartanGL's damage was not caused by taking water in the intake, it was caused by the submerging the hot block in cold water. Water may have gotten in the intake, but it did not cause the block to crack and explode causing the damage that ruined the engine. It's hard to say/tell if the intake was a concern in his case since it wasn't the root case.
I still feel much better running my "short ram" aka "hot air intake" now that it's not getting rediculously dirty from all the crap it was collecting from the road. I know that my filter was wet quite a bit seeing as the FWI was on during the winter in Colorado. Plus, I put my hand up there to check it, and yup, it was wet... not soaked or anything, just wet.
I didn't feel a performance difference when I switched either. That may have been since the FWI was 3", not 4".... so who knows.... It's all preference anyway..
