[anakaine]

Probably because the article wasn't about comparing to SQL, or any other database, but rather looked at the R vs Python debate specifically?

[d0mine]

What is wrong suggesting an alternative approach that makes the solution more readable?

Using an appropriate DSL for the problem may be useful. In Python:

    df.to_sql('purchases', db, index=False)
    print(*db.execute(query))
    # -> ('Canada', 270) ('USA', 8455)

e.g., we can use regexes to query text. Python is a general-purpose language, you can query text without using regexes but it would be insanity to ignore regexes completely (I don't know how easy is to invoke regexes from R). Another example, bash pipeline can be embedded in Python ("generate --flag | filter arg | sink") without reimplementing it in pure Python (you can do it but it would be ugly). No idea how easy it is to invoke shell commands from R. SQL is just another DSL in this case -- use it in Python when it makes the solution more readable.