Average less than 4 seconds.
If rssi is extremely low then it will def take longer.
Yea the voltage regulator is very important and the ones on the nodemcu have very high quiecient current. Also on the top end you have to look for regulators that can handle the ~500mA peak current too.
Otti Arc or Nordic PPk2 is an invaluable tool!
I think I remember measuring the NodeMCU with a higher Deep Sleep current than the D1 Mini, but I don't remember what that value was.
The other thing I forgot to mention that consumes current is the USB-Serial converter on boards like the D1 Mini and NodeMCU, but not present on the ESP-01. I don't know which consumes more, the voltage regulator or the USB-Serial converter.
I do recall the d1 mini having a really low quiescent current.
Yea the converters can also take up power I separate that and place it on a jig.