http://www.humankinetics.com/eJourna.../pdfs/5642.pdf (This is a really good article. Did you read through the whole thing?)
yup
"Rapidly absorbed amino acids despite stimulating greater protein synthesis, also stimulate greater amino acid oxidation, and hence results in a lower net protein gain, than slowly absorbed protein (54). Leucine balance, a measurable endpoint for protein balance, is indicated in Figure 1, which shows slowly absorbed amino acids (~ 6 to 7 g/h), such as CAS and 2.3 g of WP repeatedly taken orally every 20 min (RPT-WP), provide significantly better protein balance than rapidly absorbed amino acids (39, 54)".
Basically saying that ffaa may be useful for a quick spike and in certain situations but real food always kicks their ass.
So I'm going to blow the whole meal frequency thing wide open right now. Conveniently I can do it with the article you posted 5151. So they used Leucine balance as a measure of protein balance. Leucine is the most abundant AA found in skeletal muscle so it makes sense. From what they wrote ideally a person would eat a 4:1 ratio of casein protien to whey protein every 20 minutes. Yielding what looks to be a maximum protein absorption rate of 5-8g/hr. They actually found that casein protein mixed with whey protein (4:1) is significantly more effective than ingesting amino acids or just whey protein. So if you eat a large meal with a lot of protein some of it ends up in your poop. Also, a lot of the protein you do absorb (since you don't need/can't utilize a large amount at any one time) ends up being converted to sugar via gluconeogenesis. This starts happening shortly after the amino acids enter the blood stream. Or, if protein is consumed with a large amount of carbohydrates. (like in a large infrequent meal). The amino acids are instead used to form triglycerides and you get fat storage).
I think I understand what your saying but my arguement is that just because a maximal absorption rate of 5-8g/hr is found doesn't mean that's all that is absorbed. It just means the rest of the protein hangs out in your gut until it can be digested. 60g in one meal will just take longer to fully digest than 20g in another meal meaning the next meal doesn't have to come as soon. Looking at the absorption rates of pretty much anything we consider quality protein sources have digestion rates of over 90% meaning it all gets digested. I think the most important of this article was the fact that most of these high protein intakes we see are retarded as we are just using them for energy anyway.
So, for a bodybuilder. Eating frequently. Especially protein. Yields optimal Leucine balance, a decrease in conversion of amino acids to glucose or triglycerides. Also there is a thermic effect that is particularly associated with protein breakdown. This helps you stay lean. Eating meals frequently is just fueling the furnace, the evidence is everywhere.
Eating large amounts of protein yields optimal leucine/protein balance. The thermic effect of protein is the same regardless of how many meals. Protein has the largest thermic effect which is why recommending it to any first time dieter who only eats a piece of meat with dinner is a great idea. If you ingest 100g in a meal or 100g in 10 meal the thermic effect will be the same.
Seriously, read that article, the whole thing. It's excellent. I learned something from it. Eggs (casein) are the way to go. Possibly the perfect bodybuilder food (aside from the gas), you even have the colesterol which acts as a precursor to testosterone.