On Friday, June 9, 2017 at 12:55:37 AM UTC-4, Craig Reinholt wrote:
Considering the information came from a Master rigger (3+ decades), ex Para-Phernalia manufacturing employee, Dealer for Softie, and over 10,000 jumps, I am pretty certain his information is accurate.
Making assertions about operator error if using a round chute and not with a ram chute and using that as reason for possible performance differences is ridiculous.

There is your problem. Information came from someone in the business of selling round parachutes to the ignorant. Variables in deployment(pilot speed at pulling, pilot chute hesitations, etc.) variables not necessarily operator error, easily offset any difference in opening distance round/square. Although squares are faster and more reliable. And easier to find someone to pack. The most common backup automatic opener used in skydiving for the last 20+ years is set to start the reserve opening at 750' if square reserves(all there are in skydiving now) take 800' to open there are a lot of people who opened at -50' and lived.