It just feels like Sheldon wants commander to be for everyone, as long as everyone likes to play magic the way he wants it to be played.
I think this sums it up. He doesn't see it as gate-keeping because he's not trying to keep anyone out; he thinks
everyone should be welcome to play how he wants, so checkmate. It's extra weird to claim that he's not gate-keeping in an article that includes a whole section outlining what's wrong with players from other formats and why "aggressive reinforcement of our philosophy" is the solution. But no, people who want to play
Llanowar Elves are the real gate keepers (
Sol Ring is okay because he likes it, so just drop it already).
And I get it. I'm the jankiest janker that ever lost a game. I'd love it if people would play slower to let me find my magical Christmas land. But they don't owe me that just because I choose to play sub-optimal cards for the fun of playing them. That's the compromise we make; it's a
balance between the fun of winning and the fun of doing silly things. But Sheldon seems to want to not feel pressure to optimize, which is fair, while also being as successful as people who do, which is not. That's... just not how it will ever work, and it's a weird approach to try to put a ceiling on how good people are allowed to be at the game.
Not entirely related, but it feels strange to gripe about cards being powerful when used outside their "intended" purpose. I... are we playing the same format?