But, mostly I agree with you and the author about point # 9. HTML developers are a unique breed, and their skills are highly specialized. While the code may be “easier” than hardcore programming, the other side of it, the visual side of it, is not a skill most programmers have or, sometimes, even appreciate.

Likewise, many companies want their designers also to be able to develop HTML. While this solves the visual fidelity issue, it fails to address the technical side: HTML is a constantly evolving art, with new issues and workarounds coming up every day, and for someone to stay abreast of all this, they have to be doing it constantly. You can be very good at one thing, usually. Being a great designer and a great html implementer is unlikely; more likely is that you’ll be average at both.