Hasn't that always been "known" to be the case among the sane rational users?

Sure, "known" in the sense of "highly suspected", but of course that doesn't absolve the need for real science on the issue.

I completely agree. The way the_cat_kittles phrased it though made it seem like he thought it was a new concept.

new here and somehow I separated this comment from my comment he responded to, thought the upvote was like a thanks button. But I think it was a rhetorical question, because it was true.

That was my interpretation, and the article talks about ego death. When one removes ego, it mimics "zen mind, beginner's mind" where you are more open to more ideas. In theory.