Cold air intakes come in aluminum or stainless or plastic. I don't much care for plastic if metal is available. But it's hot under the hood and metal conducts more heat than plastic. Since cooler intake air is a goal, wouldn't plastic intake pipe work better than aluminum or stainless? Have any temperature tests been done to see what difference there is, if any, between plastic and metal intake tubes?

I would bet plastic would be ideal as long as the inside surface is smooth.