As for your B point, if we're going to play "but what if" I demand we play it consistently. What is the risk of this study not being performed? Is it self-evident that we are better off in a world where those concrete procedures killed this study?

This is one of the core flaws in bereuacracy, looking at the putative benefits of a policy without considering the costs. No one really denies that some oversight is needed, the question is, is this oversight needed?