Although the MIT study does not give margins of error, the 2.6 minute average difference in waiting time surely falls within a reasonable margin of error.
How exactly is 1% a representative sample of anything???? That number is less than any reasonable margin of error for anything other than a MASSIVE sample size!
While the stakes are higher and the risk is greater, but again, through time, effort, mentoring, education, trial and error and good old elbow grease, becoming a ME is an accessible and reasonable option for most of us.