Trying not to sound to uneducated in the area, but what befits would a sealed carby with an intake pipe and a pod or panel filter offer?

wouldn't it make more sense to seal the carb up to a bonnet scoop?
cos that would offer direct cool air intake, rather than trying to draw cold into the engine bay.

just wondering, is there any difference except for cosmetic?

IMO pod=wank factor

who do you want to wank? i dont get it?

when you got a crappy round air filter sucking over a hot exhuats manifold then why wouldnt you rerun the intake form the other side with a decent pod? its not gay rice mods but actuaaly works much better