Exactly. The application needs to be taken into consideration. I had this topic on my mind after the last two saws I rebuilt. One was a stock 350 while the other was modified. It seams to me guys spend so much time working out timing numbers but do not find the right carb "fit" for the saw. Take a 350, mount a zama and the saw will run just fine for the average user. Take that same saw mounted with a walbro carb and the fuel curve differs. In my experience they run better with a walbro. Same goes for the 359/357.
Now I have a 350 that I tried a 372 carb on and it ran very well at top end but was a total pain to tune and like you mentioned, idled rough. Thinking it would be nice to have a thread dedicated to carb characteristics.
On a true race saw, they run full throttle always I think... As in warm saw after priming, then lock throttle open, rip the cord, and make 3 cuts and kill... Yes???
A "work saw" has to be started conveniently, Idle properly, and limb without waiting a second to spool up...
Thus a smaller carb may be in order... Also cc and case capacity makes a difference...
FWIW, I have a 540 Dolmar with a 372 carb on it...
It's probably too big, but useable... The 365 I ran this weekend has a 390 carb on it, and owns it...