I have heard the same thing as well, about the exhaust ports. Leaving a bit of a lip, where the header bolts on, will (allegedly) prevent the gases from back-flowing. (Allegedly.)
I've seen them leave a small lip, and even an additional "raised, flat floor", in the exhaust port. Kind of looks like a "D", sitting on its face.
Here's some pics of my port work. (Done by Goza, in Woodstock.) Unfortunately, none of the exhaust ports.
(Ignore the red circle.)
And the intake. Ported by Darrell Morse. (No longer doing this, as far as I know.)