Woah, this one actually has news I can use. I have hand pain that makes immersing my hand in cold water painful, and I've always felt like the amount I've heard to rinse before seemed like it would damage the rice. Good to know it really is just a kind of 'rinse'.
As for the comedy duo, i think mostly they show keeping your mind small.... makes your world small. They could be eating pity onigiri if they learned that.