So look at it this way, the only heat sink in an air to air system is the aluminum intercooler if you get it hot and there is little/no air moving over it, it is going to stay hot.
Now in an air to water system you have an aluminum intercooler that gets hot, it has water pumped over it, that water gets warm and dumps into a 6 gallon holding tank dispersing the heat, then it is pumped into a heat exchanger with a fan further removing more heat, before being pumped back to the intercooler.
But with bumpers, off road lights, winches, slow speeds, stop and go, hills and towing, I don't think it is the right way to go. Just my opinion.
This was basically our logic behind going with WAIC. There is a lot of reading on the efficiency of water cooled for truck conditions.
It is notable, I think, that the newer TRD SC's went with water for intercooling for trucks.
Being devils advocate here...so an air to air can get heat soak when sitting still. Ok so what's the difference then not having an IC at all? I see it as an improvement over stock. Can't be any worse then no IC at all.
I think this is a matter of cost (time, money, effort) vs. gain in performance.
I honestly think AA won't do much on the trail or slow speeds where the "ram air" effect is minimal.
Also, AAIC placement is pretty crucial.
FMIC's - I can see it being the best for trucks. Less vulnerable to heat soak,
but reduced radiator cooling and/or more pressure drop and/or laggy throttle response. (long pipes)
but the benefits of FMIC means most choose this for boosted motors.
TMIC's are good for boosted motors because of minimal pressure drop but
the big weakness of TMIC's is very easy heat soak.
You have to think of AAIC's as radiators.
If ambient around the IC is hotter than IAT, it will reverse the process and heat up your intake air.
That is the potential of a too small TMAAIC.
WAIC does not have these issues. The drawback of WAIC is the complexity.
Anyway, JMHO. THese are the thoughts that led us to use WAIC.
If you go AAIC, I would go FMIC. I believe that would be the most effective AAIC.
again, jmo.