I am surprised it was an experiment that even needed to be run. I mean, I can run in high tops and can play basketball in running shoes. Of course it can be done even if it’s not optimal.
I always thought a mortise chisel was nice because it registers square to the side walls, so they feel nice in corners. Ymmv, but they need not be expensive to work, so why one would need to disprove their usefulness seems like an exercise in academia.