JB,
I'm by no means an expert here but have copious amounts of reading on the subject behind me. It seems that at the hand of a well trained and disciplined pilot, tbo and greater is just as achievable in a turbo. Some have argued more so, under those conditions. But was your previous owner in that category? Therein ...
But that really stands to reason, right? After all, what is the turbo that is rarely boosted past 30"? ... Warmer air at eternal sea level. More maintenance given the additional parts, yet still the owners who switched almost never, in my reading, bemoan the expense. Some old logic that may ring true still:
http://www.avweb.com/news/maint/182808-1.html