To be clear, the author doesn't seem to be associated with the alternatives listed at the bottom, although they do have a single line below a divider about a wholly unrelated side project.
I don't think there's a problem with posting not-very-substantive articles like this on HN - it's a forum, not just a link aggregator. They often serve as good jumping off points for discussion, especially opinions to the contrary like yours (which I am glad to have read).
Their site uses Google Analytics, doesn't that seem a bit hypocritical? It erodes all trust in the article. The "wholly unrelated side project" is exactly the new marketing tactic that seems to be in fashion these days. Whenever I read an article online I ask myself what the incentives of the author are, and in this case it's pretty clear that their goal is to get people to their website.
I don't think there's a problem with posting not-very-substantive articles like this on HN - it's a forum, not just a link aggregator. They often serve as good jumping off points for discussion, especially opinions to the contrary like yours (which I am glad to have read).