I can't agree with this author - at least their argument that "the bigger problem here lies with how Google makes this possible: 1) At all..."
If this wasn't possible at all, this product couldn't exist in it's current form. And clearly, at some point, the author saw value in this product enough to give it a shot.
Do I agree Google should make it extra clear when you are signing over permission for unusually liberal access to your data? Absolutely.
If the 1) the product couldn't exist in its (not "it's") current form, and 2) perceptions of value were based on what was a false understanding of the product and how it worked, then that perception of reality is false, and the product simply shouldn't exist.
If this wasn't possible at all, this product couldn't exist in it's current form. And clearly, at some point, the author saw value in this product enough to give it a shot.
Do I agree Google should make it extra clear when you are signing over permission for unusually liberal access to your data? Absolutely.