I have a video I have shown here where my ported 385xp is slicing through 32" wood at nearly twice the rate it did while stock, and that 385 was fairly strong stock. A ported saw allows you to run a longer bar per chassis size than non-ported, and simply pulls the chain more aggressively through the wood, especially big wood with the 70-90cc saws. It is everything a pro or even a casual user can easily appreciate in any decent-sized piece of wood. The last time a bud of mine was watching me box some Fir that was ~30" in size with my ported 385xp, he literally said "That thing cuts through that Fir like butter". And it did, and he owns about 20 saws, so knows what saws can and should do stock. I have also posted a video for all to see where a ported 372xp is absolutely burying a non ported 76cc Stihl saw - cutting more than twice as fast.
Porting makes it far easier to box large tensioned/compressed wood, fall it, buck it, etc. It's not a small difference, not at all.
As for longevity, I can't say yet myself. There is the argument of efficiency, heat, wear, etc. I have taken a few physics and engineering courses in college, but I am no engineer. However, one thing we did learn is wear is wear. If something turns faster, harder, longer, it wears more, all things being equal. Yes, it may get more work done, but it will not last as long. But, all things are rarely equal...
I did ask a few guys whom I knew had owned these types of saws for several years how theirs were doing before I decided to put one of mine up to port. I also asked a few professionals I knew in person and on the internet what their feelings were. The answers I got lead me to porting my 385xp. For a 16lb powerhead, this ported 385XP has no business doing what it can do. And that is a good thing.