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No way, not buying that. 5% because the powertrain is more dampened? If anything there are tiny, but real, amounts of loss from a DMF when it converts mechanical input into heat loss in its springs.
I think this would be common knowledge if it was true. I like the lower idle speed theory though, that's a plausible area for improvement.
I replaced my stock DMF with a 21lb single mass when I went past the torque handling capacity of the stock setup (at 87k miles)... it is almost unnoticeable, clutch in to clutch out. Basically no rattling at all, just a change in pitch of the engine. No problem with vibration at idle, etc. That being said, my understanding is that the vast majority of TDIs live their lives with stock power (or less once clogged up a bit and driven slow) with the stock DMF surviving indefinitely - 200k + miles.
Basically the fuel systems on modern diesels are so sophisticated that idle smoothness, engine response, etc, would function fine with almost no flywheel mass at all. With a microprocessor in charge of precision fueling, each fuel injection event is a calculated dose.
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