True enough!!!

A video of ME shooting one of my AUTO's in "hot competition" against Jerry Miculek and his ole-timey, obsolete wheelgun would be plenty enough to prove your point!!

Having said that, the issue of what the action does for a guy isn't totally esoteric and it is most meaningful as regards to the average or sub-average fellow who ISN'T highly skilled in gymnasticating the rifle. In that scenario, one action may indeed be easier to operate and "substantially" faster to use than another. I think taking a barely-trained fellow and handing him a Mosin-Nagant and a Lee-Enfield would prove this point pretty well.

Then of course there is the NEED for speed in the first place. How much speed is necessary for field use? Yes, yes, yes, I know someone will say that a .0001 second improvement is of vital importance to that upcoming buff hunt, but in reality so many other factors combine to impact field shooting that EXTREME speed is of little actual use in 99% of hunting scenarios, most probably including dangerous game shooting.

I actually once many years ago hit a running deer twice out of five shots with my SAKO .375, working the bolt off my shoulder. Since then I'm having trouble remembering when a single-shot would have been a serious handicap...