[3BarBoost]

Trans things aren't as clear to me, not my end of the business. My understanding is that the trans controller needs to understand what the state of affairs inside the box is. That is to say: how grippy are the individual clutch packs, are they worn any, is the pump operating above or below spec, is the fluid old or new, etc. The quick learn is to put the control algorithms in a state that will optimize around the particular condition the trans is in (which is in RAM and learned constantly). So my guess is that yes, normally quick learn happens when you break in - when you wouldn't be doing WOT upshifts - and you would need to quick learn over if you lose battery (say if you were at dragstrip). Otherwise it would happen normally while you are bumbling around town. Flash is programming a flash eprom, which doesn't normally lose it's brain unless you shine an infrared light on it.

As to why Ian's car is slower, not sure. You have a boost gauge? Same ambients should yield same boost. If not, something else going on. There have been instances of the wastegate actuator can bracket or rod "relaxing" - effectively reducing preload on the wastegate. You will need a dial indicator and adjustable regulator to measure this (wastegate rod moves 1mm at 150mm Hg pressure in the can), or you can lean on the whole thing with a large screwdriver and see if you are any faster (bend the can away from the actuator rod - no more than a millimeter). The spring trick also does the same thing. Only downside if the wastegate is not the problem is wastegate might not open until 5-6 psi instead of the 3 psi we specified, which means the wastegate solenoid has a little bit less authority to save your motor if things really get out of hand (like continuing to stand on the loud pedal after plowing through mud and clogging up your whole fascia).