I'm pretty sure it's a joke: those were better alternatives but they're equally valid now and it's time for the author to let the language change and move on.
Yeah, I see that now. Instead of italicizing the word “were” to place emphasis like you did, OP italicized most of the quote and not the word that needed emphasis. Ha.
For this reason, I thought his “ATM clout” statement meant the opposite of what he meant.
For this reason, I thought his “ATM clout” statement meant the opposite of what he meant.