HNY Nosy old chap,
You are right a water extrusion competition would accomplish little.
However, I do believe a strong link exists and it is quite worthy of some research, make that lot's of research. Any graduate students out there looking for a thesis topic?
Any idea where I can find the studies you mentioned? Have not seen anything that explored the topic very much myself.
I also think that all of us "aviation professionals" should be supportive of the assertion, at least until it is disproved conclusively. Our jobs might depend on it. The bean-counters jobs too.
Safe flying buddy.