Well from my little experience, torque being more important than speed comes into play when 50" bars are used and it is essential when 60 + inch bars are used. Thus the gear drive saws shine in this arena. I have run a 60" bar with high chain speeds and had the chain start to pull loose from the bar, pretty scary as there is no time to act. Especially considering 11 + foot of chain whipping around, it aint no 346 I can tell you that.
Now speed is more important to me personally when saws like the 200t or 346 are used. Those saws are primarily designed for limbing 3 - 4 inch branches. Of course they will do larger and I have used them on 16" diameter trees myself. However that was not their intended purpose. Sure we use the 346 as a firewood saw, though it was designed purely as a European style limbing saw, thats why it falls over with a rounded bottom.
The debate of torque vs speed is probably best in the 50cc - 90cc arena. It depends on the size and type of wood. The operator preference or style of use and likely more variables. But I do not want more torque than speed in my 200t, and I want way more torque than speed in my big 100cc + Macs & 090 Stihls. You want both, get a ported 088 or 3120. Just this poor fools opinion though.