As everyone has noted, good writing shouldn't be bogged down with syntax, yet the author proposes people ditch editors/bars and just write it directly? If you want that, just switch to source view and write. Otherwise, I'm quite content with working in a lightweight editor with keyboard shortcuts.

Frankly, I prefer to format my text with HTML anyhow. Markdown is easier on the eyes, but it has limited function and is just another level of separation between what I write and what you see.