Less time != less wear. Some of the longest programs just let the laundry sit with occasional agitation, similar to how the machine in this article works, in the name of energy saving.
Again, wouldn't it be great if we could program the washing machine? A display and a couple of buttons would be enough.
Something like:
Menu ->
New program ->
(automatically assigns it a number, e.g., "14"; no need for fancy names and a keyboard, just write it down) ->
Enter first cycle ->
(gives you options like "let it soak", "rotate", "dispense soap", "remove water" or whatever) ->
(gives you sub-options like temperature, RPM) ->
Enter second cycle ->
(and so on).
I don't know much about washing machines, but it seems doable.