The artifact answer is my first inclination, as it was yours.
There remains, however, the statistical question regarding any random assemblage of letters or any other random selection of writing. One should be able to subject those to such numerical "cherry picking" in the same manner as one "cherry picks" scripture.
A normal range of "cherry picks" should eventually come about. The bible will either fall within that range, or it will fall outside that range at a statistically significant level.
Perhaps it might be easier to study if one put a time limit on the "cherry picking" search. How many can be found in 1 hour on randomly selected pages of literature, correspondence, bible, etc.
What do you think?
Assuming one were seraching for the 'signature' of God, one would expect to find it in bible text, and not the TV Guide, as an example.
Within the bible text then, try the same criteria on John 1:1-17 and see if you find the 'signature of God' there. No? Guess God didn't sign "John" then, so remove John from the Canon and next check Romans...
Probably a more reasonal proposition than many would noise about on this thread.
However, the contention is that nothing has been done in the decades since. Further that nothing could be surfaced in a person's entire lifetime to compare with the Scriptural examples.
I don't know if that's a faith assertion or a reasoned one based on some computer runs that have been done similar to the original researcher's studies, efforts, protocals.
In any case, I'd suggest instead of an hour--20-50 hours.