I drive about 10k a year.
Let's see if I can explain this to you. I'm not the best at explaining things, I just sort of unconsciously understand them.
NIC
Xtreme 4x4 lobes
lobe # 3306/3308
rated: 269/279 .316
@ .050: 220/230
Intake
Off seat 49*
.200 RR 82*
Exhaust
off seat 49*
.200 RR 85*
LSA 112
XP
XE Lobes
lobe # 3312/3314
rated 264/276 .325/335
@ .050 212/224
Intake
off seat 52*
.200 RR 79*
Exhaust
off seat 52*
.200 RR 79*
LSA 116
To determine how tough a cam is on your valve train (gauging what kind of springs/chain you need) you want to look primarily at how the cam opens off the seat.
In the case of the NIC vs XP, the XP cam is easier on the valve train from rated duration (.006) to .050, taking 52* to reach .050 vs the NIC cam 49*. This is where you risk the valve bouncing if you under spring.
From .050 to .200, the XP is more aggressive. This is not as tough on the valve train as off the seat ratings. The more aggressive ramp rate from .050 to .200 means more power. Couple that with the fact that the XP has higher lift... which does not necessarily mean 'higher rpm'... the cam sees peak lift every revolution no matter the engine speed.
In closing, the NIC is unnecessarily tough on the valve train without giving the same gains as the XP.
It gets worse mpg, idles worse, has a very very tight LSA (narrow/higher power band), makes less power, and is in every measurable way inferior to the XP cam.
I couldn't get info on the S1x lobes because I believe they're made by cam motion, and there's a lack of info on their lobes floating around.