Hex - Like you, I'm always trying to improve. Last year my coaches broke me of the cupped-wrist-and-loft (aka "hitting up") in favor of the "open hand" release (ie, uncupping the wrist at release). The simple reason I believe in the open hand release is that, for me, it is very repeatable. The amount of cup-and-loft is not.
Why does it generate more revs? It doesn't for everyone. For you and me and many other bowlers, it does. I can't give you the exact reason, but an investigation of John Jowdy's book "Bowling Execution" might shed some light on the subject for you. Personally, I believe I get more revs with the open hand release because it allows me to rotate the ball faster and closer to the release point. When my forearm and wrist muscles are all tense in an effort to keep the "cup" at release, I can not rotate the ball as quickly or as much at the release point.
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Kill the back row (or maybe this should read "make your spares, dummy")