When you look at quantifying the drive energy difference btwn 2 different displacement engines, you'll find a significant difference at idle (0 boost) w/ the larger engine being a bigger air pump & moving more air.
This is because the "pressure balance" across both engines is the same. Disregarding any insignificant exh restriction at idle, the pressure is basically the same at the intake valve & exhaust valve - 1 atmosphere. When this pressure balance is equal on the 2 engines, the only variable factor is the size of the air pump, so the larger engine moves more air.
As both engines go under boost, you'll see the pressure balance become different on each engine if fitted w/ the same turbo. Still, at the same hp production, you'll see basically the same mass airflow. 275 hp made from either engine requires a similar mass of air. The 2 factors in drive energy are mass airflow & heat input.
Perhaps a more useful understanding of how turbo's are sized by turbo engineers would be useful here. This link is a reasonable example & both technically & practically correct.
http://www.turbobygarrett.com/turbobygarrett/tech_center/diesel_tech.html
They start w/ what their hp goal is. Note there's no mention whatsoever of displacement yet at this point. They first calculate the mass airflow they'll need to provide enough air to burn enough fuel, to make the hp goal.
Next they calculate what boost they expect it will take, to push that mass airflow thru the displacement engine they have at a given rpm. They're calculating the necessary boost, so they can compare how efficient different potential compressors will likely be, at the boost pressure it's gonna take to generate the mass airflow required to support the hp target.
The next example considers what will be necessary for a higher hp goal. Note they don't simply decide to use the same turbo to support a goal that differs by 100 hp. And I can assure you, a 100 hp variance in output, is far more significant on they typical 6.5's that won't likely survive beyond 350 hp. A 100 hp is a pretty significant proportion of the total 350 hp. And they feel the 100 hp difference in mass airflow on their 525 hp Duramax should use a different turbo - than the 425 hp application.
One size really doesn't fit all well folks. A 180 hp 6.5, is not the same as a 275 hp 6.5, is not the same as a 350 hp 6.5 effort.
Garretts approach to sizing turbos for diesel begins w/ understanding the hp goal, then the mass airflow requirements, then the pressure it's gonna take to move that amt of air thru your engine's displacement & rpm range.
You'll find Holsets approach is the same.
And BorgWarner's.
I totally agree we all have different backgrounds & experience to contribute. What I'm trying to point out here, is that the physics governing this stuff has absolutely no regard for us human's opinions on how it should work. The reason these 3 competing companies all have the sake take on the situation is because the physics is the same.
And there actually are some folks out there that have run the HX-35 on a 6.5 for quite some time. Reliably. Really. But they're not very interested in sharing their experiences because it's already apparently clear to the folks that haven't run HX-35's, that it can't work. Any of this sound familiar to the refugees that fled the Diesel Page turbo arguments of the past - to populate this new forum where they could freely discuss they're turbo thoughts? It should.