actually i did run my fzr without the airbox in the past in lwss, that's how i bought it and it's former owner did well with it and was never protested. i don't think the tech guys are concerned with whether your bike is legal for the class, just safe. i remember a guy who was racing a 748 in hwsp, he got through tech. i'm guessing by the guys who were pissed about him being there, he wasn't using a legal bike.
i think we all know people cheat. and really, how often does a race get protested? i know when i got beat in lwss by an fzr400 with an usd gsxr front-end that i got beat by the better rider and didn't protest. however, i'd hate to be protested and lose because my 400 won't be legal in the class next year (going back to the pods, and an f2 rear wheel, well as soon as my 010's are in need of replacement).
it just seems to be that using a slightly larger rear wheel and no airbox, hardly makes my bike a superbike (but by the rules it does). it just allows me to have a bike that (strangely enough) carburates better and i can use as good of a tire as the hawks, sv's, cb-1's, etc. can use.
don't get me wrong, i can drop lwss off my entry sheet, my bike is competitive in lwsb, mwsp, and gtl and i can still race up a class. but one more class is still more track time, which is something i need. i know i'd spend the $30 extra to race in lwss if given the opportunity. hell, i'll probably still run it until i finally do something good in it.
i don't know, just kinda throwing it out there. and honestly, the 400 guys have been argued this with ccs after the 99 season (which i think help lead to us being legal in mwsp), when the sv's came out. and they've argued for 560's in wera d-super.
anyway, just throwing it out there.