Yep, the article opens with a Hall of Fame-grade compound fallacy: a strawman refutation of a hypothetical ad hominem that nobody has argued.

You can kinda see how this author got bounced out of several major tech firms in one year or less, each, according to their linkedin.

It's a terrible attitude and I agree that sort of thing shouldn't be (and generally isn't) tolerated for long in a professional environment.

That said the article is full of technical detail and voices several serious shortcomings of protobuf that I've encountered myself, along with suggestions as to how it could be done better. It's a shame it comes packaged with unwarranted personal attacks.