Bambi, thanks for your response. I have read a lot of your posts throughout the forum and appreciate your insight!Exhausts are a tricky thing especially just cat back systems. You kinda have to hear them in person. Youtube vids and peoples reviews help and are generally what you make a decision on. I really like to see independent same day dyno sheets but most manufacturers either game them or won’t provide (Generally. Not saying anything negative about awe. Have heard good things about their products).
Based on the info provided so far I think you would be happy with their system. To my ear it sounds better than the others I have heard over video.
To answer your other questions.
cut outs are just a valved mechanism which allow you to choose between routing the exhaust gas through the mufflers (stock sound) or skip the muffler (louder
straight pipes are exhausts which have no muffler. They are just tubing until the tips. These can be tuned aftermarket like I understand AWE to be or simply replacing the muffler section with straight tubing.
You don’t need headers to make the sound you want.