I'm just curious if stats like the ones mentioned at the following
site are accurate. Is it true that 90 - 95% of roofers do it wrong -
placing the adhesive strip too high up on the starter course?

As far as I know that's how they do. I don't know if it is a wrong way.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Roofing-1...question-1.htm