So if I burn 1000 calories via each method of exercise, you're saying I'll get more calories burned out of one over the other? Or 1000>1000?

Because that's what you just said.

1000 calories burned is 1000 calories burned, whether you're sprinting or sleeping.

The entire point is that 100% of the calories in are counted, but 0% of the calories out via waste are counted; only calories by energy expenditure are counted. I'm not sure we really even know what range % of calories via waste might be in. If it's ~5%, no big deal. If it's ~25%, big deal. Does it depend on what you eat, in what order, whether you drink while eating, etc?

water has zero calories so doesn't enter into weight mgmt calculations.

Not in the calculations used in current weight mgmt.

Which is my exact point.

And this study basically just touches on digestive efficiency.

Ironically, skinny people probably have less efficient digestive systems.

You do realize that the calories out part of calorie counting depends massively on your metabolism+exercise, right?

Wow. Just Wow.

Let me guess. You think:

burning off 1000 calories by running >> burning off 1000 calories by walking.

I always ask my wife (a dietitian) how many calories I release as waste.

All {calorie in minus calorie out} calculations completely ignore calories in your waste.

apologies to Gelett Burgess.