This article is nothing near 'Scientific'. Next time, please call it random observations or even random musings please.
A few observations of my own:
1. The reason most decks run 8-of-a-kind is indeed redundancy. Splintertwin is not one of them though!
http://www.mtgtop8.com/archetype?a=190&meta=51&f=MO . Out of all the mentioned decks there, most of them run only 1 Kiki. The reasoning behind it is that you don't want or need a Twin card in your opening hand.
2. Goblin Electromancer in UR Storm is actually not equivalent to to Pyro Ascension. Pyro Asc serves to draw more cards on your cantrips. The Goblin Pyromancer is more equivalent to the 8 Rituals that are already being played.
3. Food Chain/Griffin plays 7 Brainstorm effects. It controls the game until it can go off, and has a very good chance to find one before turn 5. Redundancy is not required. It is a strong deck, because the best removal spell doesn't actually kill your combocard (you want to cast it from exile anyway, so PTE is no problem!)
4. I believe Nightveil Specter isn't played because it dies in the mirror due to Bile Blight.
5. Stoneblade in Legacy has the option to play Quest for the Holy Relic. It doesn't. If modern allowed for Stoneforge Mystic, QftHR probably wouldn't see play either.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that combo ia featured in one of the intro packs?
Anyhow, it creates okay 1-for-1s, but nothingto get exited about, I fear..
Any card spent on the Loner mechanic is a card lost. It's Kamigawa's 7cards in hand mechanic all over again. Every time you don't play a card because of it, the opponent gets a free timewalk. Doubly so if they Snag your creature.
Just compare it with marriage. You can't marry unless you are single, and if your partner cheats (come under control of another player), divorces (blink) or dies, marriage is terminated and you are free to get married again. Until that time, you are stuck with your horrible, horrible wife.
I still think Angel of Jubilation might be a better choice for that spot. They both cost a card, and this actually can attack by itself.
Rally the peasants doesn't prevent the boardwipe CoDH will cause among your tokens. I'd seriously play more anthems (we got 3 now) instead of this.
It's only 1 power more, unless you can pay the full six mana.
Your milage may vary.
Indeed. Who in their right mind would counter a Geist of St Traft or a Primeval Titan anyway?
And that for +1 card (sometimes also +1 virtual card).
Correct. And is there a reason not to run it? It makes Prim pretty unstoppable.