If area rule was good why would it fall out of fashion?
And one I've pondered before this came up - A rule is a rule right? especially in Physics.
The suggestion in the article is that it hasn't gone away, but is achieved by more discrete means than fuselage shaping.
I'm not an aircraft designer so there my ability to comment ends, apart from being introduced to the concept by the lovely waisted fuselage of the F5.