Mythbusters was good for at least one thing, lol. If you want to experiment with this idea, just buy boxes of drinking straws and cut off the ends of the box:
You can then place them between the bumper and radiator and test. If they don't work or negatively affect things, you then have straws to put into your drinks this summer!
I run a home-made cooling plate for my radiator on my VX, it was made from a strip of plastic and Gorilla Tape. Has been holding up for a couple years now through all the seasons. I have also taped the sides of the radiator so that all air coming in through my (reduced size) front bumper is directed through the radiator:
