Maybe I haven't searched in the right places, but I haven't found consistent or conclusive benefits documented from firing order changes. It seems to fall under the "it depends" category...
1. I see what you are saying. I have a hard time making decisions based on a few broad, ambiguous statements made by one guy at one company. Especially after being interpreted by another human being into print lol.
2. It's a matter of having lunch at a diner or eating trail mix for a few months. To me there is no savings only allocation.