The question is as you stated, how modest can these gains be to call it a victory?
In the world of spin control, marketing, hype and expectations management - they aren't going to have to show very much at all. As long as there are
some identifiable situations where there is a positive result -
however small - the trumpets will sound and the banners held high.
The promise of 800% will be forgotten among the din created by the Batteroo faithful shouting from the rooftops: "It's here - and it works!!"
The fundamental issue of
how well it works is a mere detail that will be glossed over - conveniently ignored ... and the engineering community will be condemned as being short-sighted and arrogant. It's a marketing opportunity that is certainly going to get a lot of takers ... from the faithful, the hopeful and the ignorant - not to mention those who would never admit they were wrong.
IMHO, it will take several months for the hype to settle down and by then the impact of its performance being less than impressive will have melted away.