But now you're talking about different data structures - his assumption was that you had a simple sorted array. We both know that there's a lot that can be done, and when performance really matters you don't use a sorted array, you don't use binary search, and you do take into account things like access pattern, access speed, caches, etc.

But people don't, because they read simplistic articles like this and then believe they know everything. At least the author could hint that there's a lot more that can be done. As it is, it just leaves the naive reader with a sense that they've seen the light, and the experienced reader irritated.