Early 214 muffler and shroud versus later models

I have a 455 with the 60" deck. I use a PowerFlow unit with an MC519 cart to pick up leaves in the fall, but during the mowing season, I have just been discharging. I use Gator blades and in general I am happy with the results - they do seem to do a bit better job chopping up the clippings. But in the spring, or really anytime the grass gets extra long, I get some clumps. It's hard for me to get the MC519 cart out from storage, so I either have to rake (never!) or live with the clumps.

When I had a 48" deck and before the PowerFlow and MC519, I installed a mulch kit which did a nice job - really didn't clump at all unless the grass was wet. The mulch kit has a gate that you can adjust, or remove completely, to switch it over to discharging, to some extent. My question is whether I need to remove the entire mulch kit, or just the gate, to use the PowerFlow to pick up leaves? I'd assume I'd be giving up some leaf pickup power, as even without the gate in place, the discharge is not as wide open as not having the mulch kit at all.

For mowing in conditions what I might get clumps, another option I have been thinking of is mounting the PowerFlow head and discharge tube, but not the cart, and mowing with a rooster tail of clippings to help disperse them. This has the advantage of being free, of course.

I'm interested in others' thoughts, and particularly in any experience using a PowerFlow with the mulch kit installed on a deck. Thanks!

Tim