If that is true (which honestly I have my concerns with), it should be indisputable evidence that there are significant differences between FW and SW nitrifying bacteria...or at the very least their behavior in home aquaria compared to other environments. Obviously in FW, filling a tank with water from an established tank and stocking it is a recipe for disaster. Now there are situations where taking a piece of filter media and squeezing it out into water to donate into a new tank can help introduce beneficial bacteria into a tank, however it is in no way an "insta-cycle" as people refer to certain ways to transplant bacteria.
I've used this following example several times before on the site...but it is true based on my experience, both first hand as well as all the members I communicate with daily on the site-
Substrate, decorations, filter squeezings, etc...are a true way to "seed" a tank. It introduces some degree of beneficial bacteria into a tank and lets it begin colonizing...basically planting a seed in order for it to grow.
Now, donating filter media is like planting a fully grown tree instead of it's seedlings. It instantly brings over a significant amount of beneficial bacteria which should immediately be capable of handling a larger amount of toxins compared to any other type of item. Again, this is not speculation, this is experience.
As previously stated, a tank being considered "cycled" simply refers to the proportion of beneficial bacteria : toxins produced in a tank. I really do believe that simple experience trumps the need to study at length (although I've probably read every article on Google about nitrifying bacteria) in terms of the amount of beneficial bacteria found in filter media vs substrate or other items.