Funnily enough, even as a non-pilot wannabe, this isn't news to me.
They usually teach all of these concepts at basic rockclimbing/abseiling courses.
The difference between a "static" and "dynamic" line could literally be a matter of life or death, if you fell more than a meter...or at least major injury, as a inflexible static line through a body harness = a rather uncomfortable save.
Great article.