Why is the MG3 airbox so restrictive to airflow?!

Just had a fiddle around with my girlfriends box :facepalm:



......and I noticed that its really restrictive to airflow, it also had a layer of foam padding covering the filter.



Is this for noise reduction or what?



Removal seems to have increased responsiveness a bit.



Is there any reason why a manufacturer would make an asthmatic looking breathing system?

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