Wave rotors. Waste or wonders?

[Ray]

Not sure where the claim for more surface area comes from, as surface area is determined by the area of the pads, and with all the cutouts on the rotor, one gets the impression, if anything, of less surface area on the rotor.

I think that they are referring to more edge surface area for cooling. If the inner and outer diameters are constant the swept area in way of the pads would be the same, but the edge surface area is greater for cooling, even if the total surface area is smaller. I would think that this increase in edge surface area makes the edge cooler and probably helps resist warpage.

As for the efficacy of the petal rotors vs normal ... when I see them on race bike is when I may spend extra money to get them, and even then ... probably not. Now if one likes the look, I say go for it ... it's your bike. 

Thanks GG. 
Got it. (Mind was on work..., as it should be, and I thought they meant surface area used for braking....  )

So are those edges and perhaps as important, edges of holes, catching the air more important to cooling than surface area of disk? Or is the increase in edges on a thick rotor, simply a way of increasing surface area of the disk (without a marked increase in mass)?

(All I know is, Ari Henning has promoted them, which is usually good enough for me.)