No, he said:
And that, Panosian says, makes a pilot's need for systems and information management skills at least as important as their stick and rudder abilities, and arguably more important.
Arguably more important. Which means Stick and rudder is lower on the importance list (in his opinion, of course).
he's saying that both systems management and stick-and-rudder need to be taught and maintained to a very high standard!
Where did he say anything like "stick and rudder must be maintained to a very high standard?".