A symmetric wing will not produce lift a zero angle of attack. But tilted up it will. The distance over the top will also increase, as measured from the point where the surface is perpendicular to the velocity vector.
That said, yeah the equal time thing never made any sense.
Of course, I'm just pointing out that the main explanation it gave was the equal transit time and added the angle of attack only "slightly increases lift", which quite clashes with the visualisation IMO.
That said, yeah the equal time thing never made any sense.