CyclicRick,
An increase of 500 pounds for tailcone strakes is a bit incredible. The total vertical drag for a typical helo is about 5%, with the bulk of the drag coming from the fat fuselage, and oly a portion coming from the tail cone. 500 pounds on a 205 is 5% of the Gross Weight.
Is that estimate part of the literature for the strakes? Any charts provided with the kit to support it?
The positive effect on pedal margin is quite reasonable, since the side force that fights the tail rotor is virtually eliminated.