I guess the author try to blame a low value app's lack of user engagement onto the UI design. Then the excuse to apply dark pattern of UI design would be to increase user engagement. Sounds about right? No?
I wouldn't describe a map as a dark pattern. They're definitely approaching it as though it's a dark pattern (it's a "puzzle"!), but the second design actually respects my time much better than the first. The author is completely wrong that it takes longer to use the second design than the first.