No, that article doesn't dismiss entirely the notions of long-haul regional hub flying. Just look at BA. Perhaps something for the analysts to do: list all the non-hub airport that BA operates to on long-haul routes
However, someone should prod him and say the major airline at LHR had a VERY VERY unhealthy appetite for blocking any airlines for having the temerity of wanting to fly to MAN (or wherever). Then all the "encouragement" that airline gave to airlines who flew to MAN for years than magically upped sticks making passengers take the LHR route. Then the warped behaviour of steering premium passengers to ignore their own non-stop routes out the regions in favour of routing over LHR.
Airbus and Boeing may as well not bothered with the A350 and 787 if the airlines are only interested in routing long-haul into hubs. I wonder it is because they are frightened of regional long-haul because that for years that have listened to some ignoramus analysts state there's no demand. What will it take to for them to wake up? EK operating 2 A380s + 2 77W each day, with EY doing a minimum 2 77Ws and QR picking up the slack with 2 787s/A350s per day collectively carting hundreds of passengers per day through their hubs into other airlines home airports? You've just got to look at the CX figures and wonder what on earth what kept them from coming back. On the face of it the A350-900 is not going to be big enough for the routes seeing that was the type touted for this route.