So I found a trick...

Enable the setting "Reset Integrator when AE in progress"

Then, play around with the VE at high MAP

It's working out big time for me. Instead of global delta MAP or delta TPS changes ( sometimes resulting in areas where i dont want it( I can target AE directly to the RPM range I want.

I think what's happening is the ECM is momentarily disabling the auto-adjust when there's a change in throttle position, so while it's "looking the other way", I sneak in some extra fuel via the VE table without the ECM trying to trim it back out. By the time the AE event is over, it's too late for the ECM to do anything about it.