Yes you certainly seem very Zen and level-headed. I don't think you quite understood the essay, but you don't really have to.
I didn't know any of these people before they participated in the contest, and these are labors of love and genuine joy. That you would focus on a single sentence instead of the actual material is, well, it sort of proves the point of that single sentence.
One true way? Who knows. I think I can encourage people to do better work for sure.
Have a pleasant 2023.