I have 15 years of winter experience on this subject using windmills and other intermittent forms of aeration. Besides the optimization of a diffuser/air stone/ or what a person choses for water movement, I have found its how the ice forms that's equally important. Melting ice has to a lot to do with surface area. The more area the warm water touches the faster the ice melts. Once there is an open hole in the ice it expands quickly. IME
FWIW - I have begun suspending roughed up black ABS or PVC tubes above my diffusers at the water surface before freeze up. When the windmill stops pumping, the ice forms around these the tubes. This edge between the ice and these tubes allows for a much faster hole creation once the windmill starts turning.
