this is a really good article, you make a great point! I have seen D come a long way. I first toyed with it about a year ago (I would not even install it on my server 2 years ago) and since then there is only really ONE major thing left that I really think needs to change: the blocks/page system. (and some small stuff... but I am not here to list those things...)
Merging the design layer with the application layer: the result of 250 people who took 1 good idea and made it bad.
the column thing? see more bad.
the "idea" of blocks? wonderfulness!!!
the way blocks and pages actually work? god awful
the "hope" of having 5 well focused developers finally address this in a logical, intuitive, and usable way?
friggan amazing and wonderful at the same time.
cheers