Exhaust cut-outs really aren't a huge issue if your cat-back system is sufficient.
Small turbochargers, you want to open up everything pre turbo. The physical size of the turbine wheel restricts what would be available for gains.
I would say lets develop a good sounding and flowing cat-back system. Exhaust cut-outs work, but from our experiences the gains are negligable if the system already breaths well.