Have to say that this article did hit some sensitive areas.
It's true that in the past years Bethesda has been stripping their games of game mechanics, the most recent was the removal of stats in Skyrim.
The removal of stats was explained by Bethesda: in the previous systems, stats leak one into another and end losing any kind of meaning, ruining the definition in character.
So they cut into useless scrap to focus on ways to bring definition.
This was Bethesda's declared objectives. Their objectives might have another as finding out what so called RPGers desire.
Because, while they new system might have improved the definition of characters, its efficiency relied on a cap for levels.
And one of the first demands by so called RPGers was to remove the level cap so they could grow their characters into power houses, that excell at any discipline.
So called RPGers rejected the definition in character, they do not desire that.
That is how this article is so off: it paints on face value. Bethesda know their customers, they can read their desire. That is not because so called RPGers tell they want something that they do not desire something else. Bethesda is in the business of satisfying socalled RPGers' desire.
How would the removal of stats cool the hype when it does not remove what so called RPGers desire: growing uber powerful?
So called RPGers salivate in anticipation: they are going to be able to rule the world, to be the man. The stats system to support that does not matter.
Want to cool the hype? Show that Bethesda will not allow the surge in power and will cling to the decision.