As Greywolf has demonstrated and drummed into me in the tough climate/residue area of SW MN, the thing that breaks down corn residue is contact with the soil. Not necessarily buried/anerobic. The Aerway for me does NOT push significant residue into the soils. It does loosen soils and can be set to toss a bit of soil at operating speeds.

"Pretty crappy seed to soil contact" as you put it is generally what I see after folks run most types of "Vertical Tillage" tools in standing corn in the spring.  These VT tools if used at all should be run in the fall.  The Aerway is a different type tool. Demo one and see for yourself is my suggestion.

Point I try to remember: nature built the great soils of the corn belt by piling residue on the surface.

Jim