This is kind of beside the point but... Shouldn't the the evolutionary metaphor be the opposite of how the author's using it?

They go on about how we've settled in the trough, but the whole local optimum problem is about settling in an early peak, and being unwilling to cross a trough to get to a higher peak. The workarounds would be propping up the first peak, not evidence that we've settled in the trough.

Either way, the metaphor feels kinda forced IMO.