I consider it similar but not identical to using a single 24-bit ADC instead of a 16 bit ADC and extra gain electronics to maximize the input range of the 16-bit ADC (and therefore maximize effective resolution). The latter is conventional, but using the 24 bit ADC is smarter, usually gives you more than 16 bit resolution (in low gain applications), uses less components, uses less space, and is often cheaper overall. Someone like you would be right in saying that a 24 bit ADC is more expensive than a 16 bit ADC, but you’d also be missing the bigger picture and the better solution.

The claim is not 12x greater battery life, but simply that the amount of power requirement for antenna usage is 12x less. What fraction of total power consumption this is (from the screen, power hungry GPS, etc) isn’t stated. Actual battery life improvement will certainly be much less. You can read “much less” as “zero improvement” if you aren’t using the antenna.

Regarding some of the extreme statements of hoax and impossibility, all he is doing (not to diminish the idea and work which are pretty cool) is removing a bunch of “middle-man” electronics between the data source and the antenna itself. He ditches stuff like pre-amps and conditioning and couples directly from source to antenna… the corresponding reduction in component count saves needless power consumption. Very neat, but the 12x claim is getting highly distorted.