The 261 with just advancing the timing and muffler modding is a small beast, I can't imagine that modest/correct porting and leaving the strato's intact couldn't make an improved version of itself, by allowing for good gains, while keeping the strato's fuel efficiency and cleaner burning design intact.
While I have no doubt port work like Brad's makes for a fine speed or cookie cutting saw, I can't see it as being efficient, as an overall production saw. While no doubt that design it filling the cylinder with maximum fuel mix, its also likely dumping a decent amount of mix out the muffler without being burned (= waste).
I have a question about porting the strato ports, what good is it to open the openings in the cylinder if you can't open the "tunnels" themselves, it would seem to lower the air/mix velocity? Just wondering.
My non-porting experienced opinion,
Sam