"in an environment no other aircraft can operate in"
Actually there is another aircraft that may operate in the same environment, the russian Myasishchev M-55.
I don't think so. Exposure must be prolonged, that's what research said, to expose to high risk. So, 10 mins waiting, with mask on, expose less respect to a maybe 8 hours flights sitting close or behind someone infected not wearing a mask.
I am afraid you cannot afford turbulence or landing with people in the afta lav... I guess they did on purpose like "so, now people knows what may happen if they do not comply with our policy".
I hate the guy but he is not completely wrong. Several studies shown that the COVID-19 virus spread with air flow well behind one or two safety distance considered accepted so that solution is useless and dangerous.