Better really depends on who you are. Born academics can learn better by reading foundation libraries and principles, and they write articles advising others to do the same :-)

What you described as better could be a really good fit for business-first coding opportunists who would get annoyed by perceived inefficiencies and petty politics in academia...

The article is a terrific example of basic analysis BTW. This underappreciated skill can be a huge blindspot for opportunists...