[upofadown]

The idea behind the SB strategy is that the small U lock prevents the bike from being ridden. So if you can cut just the cable you need a way to transport it somewhere else other than by riding or ghost riding it. "Rucksack Rupert" is not going to carry off the bike on his back and it is unlikely he would add in the risk of a vehicle with recordable plates without upgrading to an angle grinder.

So I think that the article is failing to entirely understand the threat model in this particular case (or simply disagrees with it).