You know, because I was running the eManage, I was able to cut the center bar out of my stock MAF and still calibrate it. Once it is cut, it doesn't get the same type of flow through the tube and the car will run dangerously lean.
However, using the emanage I was able to increase the voltage from the MAF as rpm varied to get the right feel.
I wouldn't recommend cutting it unless you have a way to tune in the airflow voltage, but if you do, then it is way cheaper than any other aftermarket MAF.
warmonger