Smic is positioned in it's own side pod duct that was designed in a wind tunnel. It creates a pocket of air in front of it that collects and is then forced through the core at pressure, at the rear of the smic is the front wheel, which, at speed creates an area of low pressure through what's known as the Venturi principle, effectively creating a suction effect, helping with airflow through the actual intercooler. Pretty clever stuff eh?
I think I'd rather use the stock ducting and positioning of the intercooler for this reason, unless I was forced into not being able to use it through performance requirements, ie it couldn't handle the cooling after a certain horsepower figure any longer.
You have to ask if the upgrade to a front mount has equal or better ducting than what is being replaced in order for it to be an upgrade.