I'm of the same opinion, still. Cold starts are bad.. lets rephrase that.. NEW starts will no oil pressure built during the first few seconds of an engine firing are bad. There may be a film of oil on the parts (*od help you if there wasn't), but the hydraulic pressure of the oil being pushed through the engine bearings really really protect them. Oil on the valve train is also important, but film is more important there, and hydraulic oil press is less important in that area. Think of the tremendous pounds of thrust a piston rod makes on the rod bearing, and imagine, if you will, there is but the thinnest film of oil (NEW cold start) there. That oil film, I believe, is more in protecting galling than providing any real protection in the main and rod bearings. The bearing have way more force to contend with than say the rings or the upper valve train. Those things are mostly spring, and other regulated nominal pressures.
What do you think would happen if you took all the oil out of the engine of a fairly new engine, including the oil filter, and did this:
Start it. Let it run for 10 seconds.
Turn off.
Start it. Let it run for 10 seconds.
Turn off.
Keep repeating the above for the duration of 15 minutes.
Now disassemble the engine. Examine those rod and main bearings (if there) see how much wear they have to OEM specs as new.
And, no you can't try this on my car..
Now, the original post was "Greatest contribution to wear reduction", not necessarily what causes wear reduction the most. We probably don't start our vehicle any less or any more than we did years ago, so there has to be some significant improvements or else we would still see engine overhaul and bearing wear about the same as it was 30 years ago. Fuel injection is a possibility, but I think we need to give credit to automotive engineers for their contribution in this field over the years. Their advancements of metallurgy, computer enhanced parts and motor designs, and their (automotive industry) machining techniques have vastly improved. We may knock foreign automobiles, but their advancements in design, made American Auto Manufactures do 'catch up' to stay competitive with them.
So, I would say this.... Competition in the Automotive Industry has been the greatest contribution to wear reduction.
Now who wants a cold one?? LOL Just my opinions, not trying to upset anyones apple carts.