Not sure what you or Verge is talking about. You don't NEED double storage space to get your original photos.

1. Go to google.com/takeout

2. Select "Google Photos"

3. Select "Email download link" (which should be pre-selected)

4. Click "Create archive" or whatever it says

Now you just wait for the email to arrive, then click the link. No storage space needed anywhere, just click the link and download like any other HTTP transfer.

I've been doing this once every 6 months or so for years, have been the same way always. Probably the reason no one is raising hell about this is because you seem misinformed.