That's not the point of the article. Developers frequently launch a startup and do so bootstrapping it. They can't always afford professional design help (I can personally attest to that). I listed these resources mainly to help that developer pull together a decent looking site, so they can maybe attract investors and subsequently a full-time designer.

Also, I'm very much interested in design. And I by no means think it's a joke. Notice at the end I say this is no substitute for professional design work...it's simply a medium.