The main premise on any of this technology is the fact that being a living substance with a cellular structure that is susceptible to change, sonic resonance through the wood allows for ‘settling’ and re-alignment of the structuring and a maturation of the sound of the wood.
Most people do mention about things settling with age, older basses having been around for a while sounding different to new or when they were new. Moisture content is another thing as well which slowly affects the sound as it diminishes. Not to mention warp factor, hence humid climates are a nightmare for necks, tuning etc. Most good manufacturers have the wood stock drying for a while before building.
Being a man of wood you will know far more than I, but to me it makes perfect sense that vibration, heat treatment (BTW in the case of Sandberg this was developed with the research department of the local university to test not just if it works but how best to do it) does make a difference to an instrument, no doubt. As ever people can judge whether or not the extra cost is worth it for them