Its not so bad if i am checking plugs as well, because i crank it over with no plugs in it when i have changed the oil.
When the plugs are still in, i hit the starter button a few times just enough to turn the motor over, but not fire up. That will pressurize the oil feed and fill the filter, then i crank it up.
It takes maybe 2 - 3 seconds to come up to pressure, and i doubt it is doing too much harm in that time.
It's called a dry start and you are correct it doesn't do much damage but it is one of the single hardest things on an engine in terms of wear, my concern is that by the time the engine has 60,000 miles I would have rather dry started the engine 10 times than 20 which would total 40-60 seconds of running with no oil pressure by your estimate.
This is of course just my opinion and I may be way off base.
With the previous hex and oil head engines it was not a concern since the oil filters were mounted up from the bottom and I would pre-fill it with oil but on the wethead that is not possible.
I also don't believe that cranking the engine without spark-plugs installed changes anything since it is still spinning without oil for a time.
It would also be interesting to see UAO's on these synthetic oils after 3,000 miles of service, the ones I've seen at 6k have looked very good with nearly every one showing that the oil could be run for even longer intervals.
IMHO changing the oil twice as often as required is brought about by a mindset that if one is good two is better.