[kbenson]

It can certainly read like that, but there is a note before the exchange begins that explains his representation will be naturally biased, if by nothing else than by his remembering his argument better than the opposing argument. Additionally, he does concede some ground at the end.

That said, I'm not sure it's a real exchange. It feels somewhat manufactured to me. But that's somewhat irrelevant to the point, as long as the arguments each side presents are conceivable for their professions and the current prevailing beliefs within them (which I'm not qualified to judge).

In the end though, that's all irrelevant. The real question is whether you find the facts of the argument compelling and whether it changes your view on anything.