I don't understand the controversy, suppositions and what not in this thread... Lycoming, Continental, and Pratt & Whitney (Round motors that is) have been in the industry a long time... written good manuals and with proven procedures and operational techniques.
True, Lycoming and Continental have evolved with water cooled, single power lever/condition lever applications. But at the end of the day... if you stick with their procedures... you'll reach TBO without issues.