I don’t know man.....
Tight valves cause strange drivability issues for sure. I deal with the bucket shin design issues all day long with the Subaru wrx/sti/ Fb engines.
I’m trying to put together the pieces to this mystery like everybody else.
14 mapping started better but had kick back and had extended crank issues. Then we’re flashed with the lastest and greatest and are all f&ck &up.
15 mapping has rolling idle issues, inconsistent crisp startup’s, minor kick backs, flashed with the latest and greatest and all f&ck &up.( describing my 15).
-10 and up it would start without backfire so if my experience was just tight valves I would have starting issues north of 0 degrees.
I will say crappy fuel mapping being to rich or lean or inconsistent will deteriorate a valve train eventually.
What we need to know....
Vacuum readings from startup to operating temperature.
Cylinder leakage / hot/cold
Compression hot/cold
Valve clearance specs cold/hot.
Just a technician’s opinion.